Boris is the man to burst the Clegg bubble

In2minds

So "Boris is the man to burst the Clegg bubble", yes and no. Boris, but for his stance on climate change, is the man to lead the Tory party. And David Davis is too strong on civil liberties and this shows up some of his party!

sunlituplands

Two terrific suggestions. The highest elected Tory official in the land and the grammar school boy who is a bit of a renegade yet nearly won the leadership. Sell the broad church and rip the guts out of the Lib-Dem fantasy. Those poll numbers go straight back to the Blue count, leaving the Reds and Yellows to scrap for the mid-to-high 20's second spot. Mr Forsyth, I hope you have messers Coulson and Hilton on speedial. I'll happily pay the bill.

Joe

But why would Boris come out to attack Nick Clegg? It's well known that behind the scenes he's no great fan of Cameron himself.

Bob Cat

Boris need to be used alright ! He needs to be leading the - so called - Conservative Part and if he was it would be about 12 points clear and heading for Government.

He isn't perfect but he's streets ahead of the current incumbent as a recognisable and likeable person and as recognisable Conservative.

Too late now. Maybe 2015 ? If any of us are left by the ?

David Ossitt

“Boris has, to my mind, being under used in this campaign. The Tories need to get him out there far more. There’s also a case for using David Davis, whose civil liberties credentials are strong, to lead an assault on the Lib Dem’s law and order policies.”

I agree on both suggestions; Cameron should use every weapon available and stop all of this shilly-shallying this is war, not tiddlywinks.

THX1138

Boris is a dangerous weapon to use remember unlike most CH's, BJ agrees with Clegg about an amnesty for illegal immigrants.. Also in LDN, I'm starting to detect the BJ backlash, he has become just another Pol that over promises & under delivers..And of course we all know his feelings for DC and If Dave loses the GE, well BJ might just quiet like that to further his own ambitions.

BNP Voter

Boris Johnson supports amnesty for illegal immigrants:

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2009/06/boris-welcomes-lse-report-that-suggests-immigrant-amnesty-would-produce-3bn-boost-to-economy.html

Noa Zrk

16 days to the polls and you seriously argue that dragging the flop haired muppet into the public area is going to undo the harm caused by years of misconceived neo-Blairist policy plagiarism? And as likely as Caesar asking Brutus to take the stage with him at the Ides of March inauguration.

If Cameron wins this election, and its a big if, it will be in spite of his eschewment of Conservative, democratic and independent policies, not because of them.

Justicia

Boris' humour is just that though, humour. The public at large won't take what he says and apply it to Clegg with any serious thought, it's just not going to work.

Zoo keeper (Elephant House)

"But any direct attacks on Clegg are dangerous as they present him with an opportunity to attack the same old politics".

James.
What on earth is wrong with attacking "the same old politics" ?
Aren't they the politics that have got us into this mess ?

I know this is stating the obvious. But :-
ANYONE who "attacks the same old politics" in the positive interests of the long-term (i.e. beyond 5 years/next election) economic and social prospects of this Nation SHOULD win by a country mile.

It won't happen.
Lab/Lib/Con politician's can't/won't tell the truth, and, as has been stated before, the majority of the UK population don't really want to hear it.

Noa Zrk

sunlituplands 11:30pm

"Two terrific suggestions. The highest elected Tory official in the land..."

Well, it's a fair point Sunlit but we in the North would point to Geoff Driver, Conservative leader and practitioner in Lancashire County Council.
Or are we both just being parochial?

Major Plonquer

Perhaps also Dan Hannan could have a go at showing how Clegg and Cable are nothing more than Euroarse lickers? A few people still listen to Danny boy.

EC

Boris?
Bwaahahahahahahaha

God you lot are must be desperate.
Attack Clegg and you'll make him more popular,
leave him alone and he'll probably prick his own bubble.
King Cnut, Dave, will probably opt for the former,,,,,

Austin Barry

That Boris supports an amnesty for illegals is not particularly germane - it isn't part of the Tory manifesto. What he does offer to the enervated, pallid, almost catatonic Conservatives is energy, charisma and great humour. So, fluff-up his hair, set askew his tie and send him out on the hustings - and soon.

alexsandr

How can the libdems attack 'old'politics' Werent the whigs a very old party?

2trueblue

James. Scrunity and challenging Clegg on his claims that he could/would deliver a referendum on EU IN/OUT is where the case sits. Who will he have to get into bed with to achieve this great feat? Brown has already defaulted on most of their promises.

Clegg and his parties past history and voting pattern are in the public domain so what are you doing? Get the info and let it do it's work. I am fed up of the current circus and the 'meja' behaving as if this is a the X Factor.

We have a weak government that are not beyond any dirty tricks, anda novelty item being puffed up, and no one seems to be able to engage intellect or history to put the facts out. I despair.

2trueblue

Forgot to say immigration and the EU are part of the same mindset and on both issues Clegg and his crew are far away from the mainstream electorate and as such should not be let run off at the mouth by the media. He has form and it should be brought to attention. That is not just the job for the Tories to point out it is part of the media to present. They have no problem channelling the Tories so why this gloved hand for Clegg?

Vulture

Well, if the British public are stupid enough to fall for Cleggover despite his 'hand Britain over to criminals, immigrants and Brussels' policies they would certainly be dumb enough to go for Boris's buffooneries.

I said here last week that the Tories shd make more use of the blonde bombshell since he was the only British politician who cheers people up. They shd certainly use him to counteract the cocky and pompous Clogg. Who care abt the fine print of his policies : this is an emergency - send for Boris to get the Tories out of the mess Dave created. Floreat Etona and all that donchaknow..

But don't deploy Davis for three reasons:
a) He has become the member for Al Quaeda East. At a time when Britain is on the edge of a political and economic abyss, this tosser goes on radio to talk abt what he thinks is the burning issue of the day - releasing from custody murderous terrorists who want to blow us all up. He's an idiot.

b) He appointed prize crook Derek Conway to run his leadership campaign.

c) He is monumentally vain and as (a) and (b) indicate, utterly lacks sensible judgement. His resigning and then getting re-elected in a hissy fit underlines this.

The clincher: he's a great mate of Alistair Campbell.

stephen

A desparate remedy but then what did Guy Fawkes say-Desparate situations require desparate remedies. IMHO the voters are displaying considerable emotional immaturity in supporting Clegg without really considering the Lib Deb Monster Raving Loony type policies.

Maybe it takes a Loony like Boris to prick this bubble of mass hysteria rendolent of the outpouring over Diana's death?

Simon Stephenson

Justicia : 12.29am.

And here was me thinking that you'ld either ridden off into the sunset, or that you'ld taken the less exacting route of adopting a new non de plume.

So, have you any thought of answering the challenge made to you in the comments to this post?

http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/5909163/tory-manifesto-launch-live-blog.thtml

Ryan

London Labour are slamming Boris' record in their latest leaflet. It's time for the great man to step forward and help the party win the key London marginals and rebut Labour's nonsense and the expose the loopy Lib Dems.

Boris your party needs you.

RJC

Abso-blooming-exactly.

Boris and David Davis are two voices that have been strangely muted through the campaign, and they both have the ability to cut through with messages that are reported.

David Bouvier

Same old politics - would Nick Clegg have taken us into the Euro - at least Brown stopped Blair from doing that?

LibDems cynically reneged on a referendum of the Euro constitution. Thats "old politics".

LidDems keeping Gordon Brown in office even when Labour is third of three main parties? Very old back-room politics...

Remember a coalition with a cobbled together program has received exactly NO VOTES AT ALL.

John David Barnett

Noah Zrk

If we are not being right wing enough, how come our voters seem to be moving away from us in a leftish direction?

John David Barnett

Odd that a man from a wealty and privileged background who went to a top public school should be seen as more in touch with hoi polloi than a man from a wealthy and privileged background who went to a top public school.

Rod Jones

Unfortunately, Boris Johnson's article in the Daily Telegraph today 'taking on the Lib Dems' was feeble, having the air of complete desperation. It won't convince anyone who's moved over to Clegg. The reality is that people made their mind up about Labour and Brown a long time ago. For a while, when there wasn't an election, they expressed that by telling pollsters they would vote for the Conservatives (even though they didn't really want to). Along came the expenses scandal, and the public realised they didn't like the Tories either. Over the last two weeks, the British public have decided that the way to give the political establishment an electric shock is to vote Lib Dem in sufficient numbers to give them the most votes, and then leave the political class to deal with the fallout. You can talk all you like about how the Lib Dem figures don't add up - that's simply not the issue. We are going to vote Lib Dem to wipe the smile off the inadequates who lead the Conservative Party and consign Brown and his party to oblivion. Clagg will be wise to see that this is the case and not pretend that we've read his manifesto (we haven't). The Conservative Party have completely blown this election through their own lack of principle, their reliance on American style PR, and an arrogant attitude to us, the electorate. Boris will be paying Max Hastings his £1000 back!

Vulture

JDB: Do you mean Boris (Eton) or Clegg (Westminster)?

General Zod

Clegg's a Wykehamist, Vulture.

John David Barnett

Vulture

I was referring to Clegg. Then when I had pressed the button I realised it could also apply to Boris.

John David Barnett

Rod Jones

ASnd there was I, thinking Boris was as brilliant as ever today.

Were you reading the same article?

YouCannotBeSerious!

The idea that Boris can turn this around is risible. This is no time for a substance-free dilettante. The answer to the Tory problem is obvious - Ken Clarke. He will deal with Vince Cable, be authoritative where Ken Clarke is not, and be authentic in a way posh Tory boys will never be. Next.

michael

Ed 'balls' Gravey has just told Andrew Neil that those on minimum wage are earning between '8 and 9 thousand pounds' pa.....
Which, if your are 16 or a part timer could be true.
The new standard minimum rate based on 40 hrs pw is £12,334.00 pa.....attracting a tax bill of £460 -- using the 10 G + rule.
...the lowest paid are NOT taken out of tax.

Ed Davey also said that the resulting shortfall in revenue would be recouped thro' green taxation such as a tax on flying...because "rich people fly more"

Ain't it comforting to think that all those thousands of folk stranded around the world are filthy rich.... and that stinking rich family of four, with only 1 breadwinner, (on a budget break) would been stung for for 4 lots of flight tax. Tee hee.

Apparently, Ed reckons our debts have not yet reached the 120 year average of 82% GDP.....So we don't have to pay 'em back then?...has he tried that one on the city?

It's all very Gordon or...
Vince Vat-Statsbender.(spot the difference)

Didn't this crew used to be called the SDP... www.Sameoldsh1tDifferentPackage.eu

Vulture

@Zod: No he's not, Zod. Clegg went to Westminster - I have corrected you on this before. He's not clever enough for Winchester.

Noa Zrk

John David Barnett@ 9:51am

Noah Zrk

If we are not being right wing enough, how come our voters seem to be moving away from us in a leftish direction?

The national debt & immigration are both key right wing issues to which Clegg has made at least a token acknowledgement.

It's perhaps a measure of the electorates' desparation that even the barest nod in thier direction induces such a swing. So imagine the response Farage or Griffin might have elicited if allowed to participate in last weeks Left Wingers debate...

YouCannotBeSerious!

Typo in last posting. Should read as follows:

The idea that Boris can turn this around is risible. This is no time for a substance-free dilettante. The answer to the Tory problem is obvious - Ken Clarke. He will deal with Vince Cable, be authoritative where Boy George Osborne is not, and be authentic in a way posh Tory boys will never be. Next.

Rod Jones

John David Barnett @ 10.39

We were reading the same article. My point is that while it may enthuse keen members of the Conservative tribe, it a) won't appeal to those who aren't; and b) misses the point about what is going on here. The electorate have been mulling over how to give New Labour and the Conservatives their richly deserved punishment, within the confines of what's to hand, and the way the electoral system works. A large number have now come across a simple method: vote Liberal Democrat. The panic in Conservative circles is evident, Labour are hiding their anxiety a little better. On the Daily Telegraph website there is a video clip of Clegg giving an interview to Dutch radio in Dutch. Compare his ease with Cameron wheeling on his parents... The Conservatives opted for a little bit of what they thought was style, which is fine until someone just that little more stylish comes along (who also, ironically, offers tax-cuts, which used to be the Conservatives Unique Selling Point).

Derek

Yes, bring Boris Johnson to centre stage and offer him the platform to share with Frank "Tony-Blair-is-a-water-spider" Field - he who has made us weep again for our country today as he predicted destruction for Britain in the summer as a result of Gordon Brown's economic mismanagement and we realized that what we hoped was merely a nightmare has just been confirmed by Field as objective reality.

Boris not only is a man who makes us linguistically lazy English look in our dictionaries for the meaning of "polycephalous" but who can give specific rebuttal to individual Labour policies as he demonstrates in his article in the Daily Telegraph mentioned in a post above, and then sum up what we have been saying here in refreshingly idiosyncratic terms: "You'll get Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for five more holepunch-hurling years, because the Lib Dems almost always vote with Labour, and in my years in Parliament I can't remember a single moment when they opposed a Labour measure to expand state spending or state control.

I can't think of anything worse for this country than some great ghastly soggy Lib-Lab coalition, dripping with piety and political correctness and unable to take the decisions we need for fear of offending the vast hordes of public sector special interest groups they collectively represent.

That is why the current madness cannot last. The Lib Dems are everywhere today, like the orange spores of an exploded puffball. Next week they will be gone with the wind."

Speak for England, Boris!

George Laird

Dear All

The idea of wheeling out Boris is nonsense.

Is he going to play the loveable bumbling fool?

With a quick ha ha here and a quick hah ha there!

This isn’t a church raffle.

There is a reason for the Tories not using him, just as there is a reason for keeping the mad old auntie in a basket under the stairs.

Out of sight, out of mind!

Boris is a shock jock and the Tories are trying to play the statesmanlike thing to the masses.

Dribbling is reserved for photo ops on football pitches.

James says there is a case for using David Davis, which I would agree with, I would go further and say that Cameron should announce Davis will be appointed Home Sec.

It would have voter appeal (in England), kick Grayling further into the long grass and grab the initiative.

Cameron doesn’t want to stand beside Johnson because he doesn’t want to be compared.

SNLR.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

General Zod

Apologies, Vulture. You're right (well about the school Clegg attended anyway).

Verity

If Boris wants an amnesty for illegal trepassers in our country, then he is politically illiterate on this particular point.

Giving the illegal Hispanics amnesty in the United States, on "a one time basis", led, of course, to a second amnesty for the next wave of illegals who demanded "fairness" and so on.

So no amnesties.

And no anchor babies. A baby born in Britain to people in our country illegally should be considered a citizen of the father's country and be returned with the parents.

Marcher Baron

Don't attack the man, attack the ball - take Lib Dem policies apart. There must be ammunition; amnesty for illegals, joining the Euro, federalism, their record on the Lisbon referendum that never was (despite having been previously committed to it) to name but a few.

mark browning

just watched the policics show debate20/4/2010 and the message that i get from the lib dems is that they will reward people for being deceitful ie illegal immigrants , there will be no short term prison sentances, and it is acceptable to carry knives. forgive me if i am wrong but i have watched it twice and clearly heard Chris Hune say this. What message does this send out for the youth of today nevermind the yobs and criminals god help us if they win we will be the crime capitol of the world