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UK - Boris messes up again

The Don

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The Don
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The UK government has taken the "interesting" step of saying that the Foreign Secretary's comments regarding a foreign power do not represent "the government's position".

Footage has emerged from an event last week at which Mr Johnson said UK ally Saudi Arabia was engaging in "proxy wars" in the Middle East.

The PM's spokeswoman said these were the foreign secretary's personal views.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38248316

Regardless of the rightness or wrongness of his comments regarding Saudi involvement in proxy wars - Boris Johnson is a loose cannon and his actions are buffoonish IMO. :mad:
 
Thing is, that what Boris said was true. Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaging in war by proxy - they're pulling the strings of their puppets in other states and they're providing the money that pays for those wars.

So I commend him for saying it. It's just a shame that Theresa May wants to suck up to the Saudis, keep labelling them as 'our trusted allies' and pretending that they can do no wrong.

I don't really support having the Saudis as our allies - but if we must have them that still shouldn't gag us from speaking out when they do the wrong thing.

When your friend does something bad, if you're a good friend you tell them why you think it's wrong and do your best to persuade them to stop doing it.
 
What is it about loud mouthed blond american politicians this year? Seems to be a trend.

May had to know what she was getting, he is and always has been a boor.
 
He's bust as a Foreign Secretary.
How can anyone trust his statements are Government Policy?
Who would be able to take his word in a negotiation without getting Downing Street to confirm it?
 
Kinda funny the tories keep calling labour disorganised and ununified while there own cabinet disagrees with each other over everything.
 
p0lka said:
foreign minister tells the truth,
government distances themselves from foreign ministers statement,
does government tell the truth?
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A Government Minister follows Government Policy. As Foreign Minister it's his job in concert with the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Party Manifesto to formulate and enact the Foreign Policy of the Government.

If he doesn't want to do that he needs to resign.

He is in Saudi Arabia at the weekend for follow up meetings leading on from the PMs recent visit. What is he going to say?
 
p0lka said:
foreign minister tells the truth,
government distances themselves from foreign ministers statement,
does government tell the truth?
Click to expand...

I think it is the definition of the "gaffe". Politician accidentally tells an inexpedient truth.
 
Garrison said:
Well in reluctant defence of Boris that would only apply if the government has policies and in this case besides, '**** the poor' there's no evidences of that.
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Well, they do have a policy wrt Saudi.
It's the ongoing "please buy our weapons" policy, with a side-order of "because our economy's ********** if you don't and we leave the EU".
 
ceptimus said:
Thing is, that what Boris said was true. Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaging in war by proxy - they're pulling the strings of their puppets in other states and they're providing the money that pays for those wars.
Click to expand...

I certainly agree, he did speak the truth. However he isn't a reporter, but a top government official. He isn't supposed to say the truth about everything everywhere, but further the foreign policy of UK. Unless it's the foreign policy of the UK to come down on Saudi et.al., he's supposed to avoid talking about it.

Somewhat depressingly, coming down on Saudis would distract the public from the omnishables Brexit is turning into.

McHrozni
 
ceptimus said:
Thing is, that what Boris said was true. Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaging in war by proxy - they're pulling the strings of their puppets in other states and they're providing the money that pays for those wars.

So I commend him for saying it. It's just a shame that Theresa May wants to suck up to the Saudis, keep labelling them as 'our trusted allies' and pretending that they can do no wrong.

I don't really support having the Saudis as our allies - but if we must have them that still shouldn't gag us from speaking out when they do the wrong thing.

When your friend does something bad, if you're a good friend you tell them why you think it's wrong and do your best to persuade them to stop doing it.
Click to expand...

The problem in the case at hand is that the friend strongly believes he is acting according to god's (or allah) will. Therefore all what you, unbeliever, could say will fall in deaf ears...
 
McHrozni said:
I certainly agree, he did speak the truth. However he isn't a reporter, but a top government official. He isn't supposed to say the truth about everything everywhere, but further the foreign policy of UK. Unless it's the foreign policy of the UK to come down on Saudi et.al., he's supposed to avoid talking about it.

Somewhat depressingly, coming down on Saudis would distract the public from the omnishables Brexit is turning into.

McHrozni
Click to expand...

Personally, I am happy he said this about Saudi Arabia. Brexit may be an omnishambles, but if the government policy is immoral then I am happy to see someone, whoever that is, speak out about it.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
In which case he needs to resign and get to the Back Benches.
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I'd like to say I would be happy about that too, I suppose. On the other hand, I am quite happy where he is.

But actually, are you correct about that? Perhaps it is usual for a PM to send her off-message cabinet ministers to the wilderness, but is there any obligation for her to do that?
 
Yes, it's the job of the Foreign Secretsry to present the Foreign Policy. If he wants to oresent hus own personal policy and it differs from the official line he needs to persuade the Cabinet and PM to change policy, resign or, if he wants to keep the status shut the **** up.
 
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