Why I stopped talking to Boris Johnson | Exit Interviews
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ม.ค. 2024
- “He had political superpowers and he sort of blew himself up.”
Outgoing - and outspoken - Conservative MP Sir Charles Walker reveals whether he’s spoken to Boris Johnson since sitting on the partygate inquiry. He also tells Matt Chorley why he wishes he'd been "nicer" to David Cameron, and why he never became a minister in his nearly 20 years in the Commons.
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This is a moderate Conservative MP but he has no understanding of what his party and himself have done to the country in the last 14 years ,its disturbing just how detached he is from reality.
Detached from reality….exactement.
The bit about £86K per annum MPs being in poverty when they leave. My heart bleeds purple p*ss. Lucky he is leaving as he's further out of touch with reality than he thinks.
He's a good MP and he's helped a lot with getting the importance of mental health to the forefront of society.
@@gamewithadam7235 Thats good but with 14 million living in poverty including 4.2 million children and 7 million waiting for medical assistance did it not occur to him that his party and its huge cuts to our social framework was the biggest cause of mental health problems ? Create a problem then bring it to attention is not helping anyone.
@@gamewithadam7235he could have done that - and far more effectively - in a different political party, one that hasn’t destroyed every single public service on purpose, in order to privatise them for their own benefit.
Boris's super powers ? I guess he is referring to Boris having the audacity to lie his way through any situation.
The problem with all these people who were "let down" by Johnson is that his many and varied flaws were all well-known for decades. Johnson didn't suddenly become despicable, he was always that way, all that changed is that he stopped looking like he could win elections.
Indeed. I find it very difficult to have any level of respect for people who claim that Johnson let them down; for people who claim he has 'upsides'.
About the best anyone seems to be able to say about Johnson is that he's 'charismatic'.
What that really means is that he managed to win support from people who, quite clearly, lacked the knowledge and/or intelligence to vote like mature, informed adults. Johnson effectively exploited these people, in a similar (though, arguably, not quite so extreme) manner as Trump has exploited certain demographics. The Conservative Party (at least in the short/medium term) benefited, as it remained in power. In the longer term? Eh.
The 'upsides' of Johnson are the 'downsides' of a significant proportion of the electorate.
It was clear before he'd even become Mayor of London that he was unfit for any kind of public office. Us boring (i.e. informed, less tribal, capable of thinking critically and, clearly, more intelligent) types knew this.
Exactly, he was an incompetent Foreign Sec who also has form as a national security risk.
Failing him upwards to be PM was appallingly negligent.
How could you be so mean to a little boy? 😂
Don't forget the people like the now infamous hairdresser who voted for BoJoke BECAUSE he was a known liar and that somehow made him human.
I repeat what I've said many times..the sane half of the electorate saw Johnson for what he was, a pathological lying narcissist, a bone idle clown. They could have told the Tories and the voting public what would happen if the clown was allowed into No.10. What is surprising is how approx half of those who voted couldn't see what was blatantly in front of them. These Johnson fans still brag about how he won an 80 seat majority. Je won it purely because of his Get Brexit Done(and he churned out lie after lie and delivered a pile of excrement), and because Corbyn was slaughtered by the right wing media.
Neither are there this time round, and those Tories who actually think Johnson would win again are beyond deluded
"Boris - could have been magnificent."
I have to call BS on that. No one that shambolic can ever be magnificent. The best he could ever have done would have been to muddle through.
The only upside with Johnson is that he is no longer prime minister.
It was very difficult for Boris 🙄 what about the rest of the country 🤔
A man who rose without trace.
Walker had a career in marketing before entering politics, yet didn't clock Johnson was a snake oil salesman. And he has a knighthood?
During this guys "wonderful time" his party has managed the largest post war decline in the UK.
Economy, social mobility, health care, education, environment security both internal and external, UK's international standing and arguably the most important is the UK cohesion as a union, all have been severely damaged by the Tories.
Only 2 things that have gone up under the Tories, debt and taxes.
Thanks for restating the bleeding obvious, MrBabylon 😊.
So he says that a really good teacher will look at the £86k salary and say “that’s not going to attract me.” How much does he think teachers get paid?!
DOUBLE what a teacher makes 6 years in.
Absolutely delulu. It beggars belief how out of touch these people are.
This man's blindness on the subject of Johnson is breathtaking.
he probably knows more than you mate
What a good and decent man Charles Walker is. All the best to you, sir.
A few downsides of Boris? That's very polite of you.
Classic British understatement - which always includes a hefty seasoning of low-key sarcasm.
Everything he is and everything he does.
@allanmason3201 I know. That it's very polite was my own understatement. I PERSONALLY can't stand Boris Johnson, especially not after reading Boris at 10.
Sadly, Boris Johnson represents everything I don't like in a person. He is pompous, mendacious, indulgent, lazy, self-serving, illoyal, vain, disrespectful, ignorant, immodest, and greedy. He is many other things too.
Not a word about the damage that 14 years of Tory "government" has wreaked on public services and the economy -- austerity, Brexit ... what a disaster. Good riddance, and think on what you've done. This brilliant country deserves so much better.
That is the problem, they don't think upon what they have done... It's just another party!
Boris Downside HE SURVIVED BIRTH
He has a few downsides..... a FEW you say?? really? that's news to me.
Only Two, everything he says and everything he does😂😂😂😂
I always said the main thing that could destroy Mr Johnson was himself and he did it.
Charles Walker seems a well meaning chap and a hardworking politician, but completely let's Boris off the hook here. Simply painting him as an easily led fool is just ridiculous and willfully blind.
Unfortunately Boris consistently fails to meet the low expectations he sets for himself.
This guy lives in a jolly little bubble, doesn't he?
Doesn't he though! He has had a "super time". Fgs his party had killed people and ruined millions of lives. The private school garbage needs to go from our society
You're right about the bubble. It's not everyone's goal, but it should be perhaps (?).
He's extremely lucky to have built his padded cell and to have taken control of it, but wouldn't we all like to be in his position?
Part of building my bubble was leaving the UK in 1986. It's no good staying in a toxic environment. (I'm council estate comprehensive educated for context. Anyone could do it before Brexit.)
@@andrewrobinson2565 I left the UK a long time ago and have my own little bubble going. But then my opinions are not sought after by journalists then projected into the homes of millions.
@@andrewcarson5850 TH-cam exists to share opinions of all kinds 👍🇨🇵🇪🇺.
@@andrewrobinson2565 Indeed, but this was broadcast, it was a desired opinion, not just the bletherings of us lot in a comment section.
Why did he even begin talking to Boris The Liar?
Such a nice, thick, decent, mediocre man who knows his limits, but still…a Tory barometer of failure across the board.
He is jumping before being kicked out
We need to wash our hands of Boris!
"I never _really_ liked him. *Could* have _possibly_ voted for him by accident during the leadership ballot. But hardly knew him, actually. Don't recall ever speaking to him. Might have seen him now and then around the Houses of Parliament. But wait a minute - remind me who was I talking about?"
The same Charles Walker who lately said that all those who voted against the Rwanda bill simply did not understand the parliamentary system where you have to turn off your conscience and simply vote with your party on the first reading no matter how insane the law may be, it is just common practice. Sorry, there was a time when I thought he was actually one of the sensible Tories left but apparently, there is no such thing as a sensible Tory any more.
I'm no Tory and I disagree with the Rwanda policy but in this he's right. First reading is a formality because it's when a new Bill is simply put on the agenda. It is not debated. To vote against anything on first reading is to decide something before listening to a single argument. At least let those who came up with this crackpot idea explain it, have an argument and vote it down on second reading.
@@johnfernleigh1352 So the first reading needs to be approved even if what is proposed is OBVIOUSLY wrong? This law tries to legislate that a country that murders asylum seekers for demanding more food is somehow safe. Would you also agree that a law that legislates that 2+2=5 or that the moon is made of blue cheese would have to be approved at the first reading just because everybody needs to turn their brain and their compassion off? Seriously?
Having first seen him when HIGNFY (misguidedly) launched Johnson when he was virtually unknown, I have yet to see any upsides to him. I guess they're now in the same category as the elusive benefits of Brexit.
He had a few things going for him, none of them laudable traits. He could win elections and he would get a free ride from a media who were more interested in his box office appeal than in any substantive assessment of his merits.
Like when the EU imposed austerity on Greece? Are you fine with Brussels austerity on the UK?
Maybe question why you picked a numpty in the first place. Faux regret is hilarious
'I'm wrong on most things'. Well he got that bit right.....🤦♂️
The question is. Why did you talk to him in the first place?
Just scrolled down & noticed you wrote the same 😅
You are not in a safe seat Tory boy, no seat is safe for the Tories come the next election.
He was going to leave before all of this was going on anyway.
Only Johnson's old seat of Henley on Thames, where the would vote for a pig's bladder on a stick, if it had a blue rosette. Oh sorry they already did.
If being an elected politician is 'vocational' why should it receive so much better renumeration than than the 'vocational' caring sector of employment scene ?
The former is paid by the taxpayer the former is paid by customers.
You are aware of the difference between public and private sector yes?
@@nifralo2752the NHS , which does a significant part of the 'caring' is , at present , a public sector body , so due similar consideration as the MPs then . Also , till the Tories got in in the 1970's the Local Government sector were responsible for care homes etc and were not a highly paid group in the economy either . Privatisation did nothing to improve their lot or the level of service provided for the customers either .
The Blair / Brown govts were Tory lite sellouts , maintaining the neoliberal policies of the preceeding 20 years . Tax the City types , big business and all the money hoarders and make society a more equal place to live .
@@martinparkinson3665 social care is mostly private buisness there are very very few state run care homes. Plus how many who work in the NHS are burecrates and managers who couldn't pass high school biology ?
The (Tory) political class.... sigh.... we'll never get anywhere will we? Doomed.
I didn't know he had OCD. Really grateful he opened up about that, what a brilliant interview. Thank you.
He was worried that lockdown would be bad for mental health, i.e. his commercial property owner chums would get anxious about losing money.
I'm a lifelong supporter and voter for Labour, so I have no political sympathy for Charles Walker, but I don't think this is fair criticism. He has always been open about his mental ill-health and, in particular, his OCD and I believe his concern for people denied access to their vital support during lockdown was genuine. I'm sorry he's a Tory because that aside, he comes across as an honest man.
Lockdowns and school closures were unnecessary and did incalculable damage. For a virus of
I can sum him up in one word but I'm not sure if it would breach any guidelines in operation here...
A honest and moral man God bless you Charles
A decent sounding Conservative. How extraordinary.
Look at his voting record propping up a 3rd rate government for 14 years.
He's a decent *_sounding_* Tory.
Then you check their voting record and nothing decent about that.
Wilco.
@@murrayeldred3563 We’re waiting. How long do you need ?
He was the clown of Europe when he was home secretary, I’ll always remember the Europeans laughing in astonishment at the British when they elected him as PM.
Upsides ! would that be upsides for the conservative party because its not for the country
"I'm not giving this job 100% of my effort and enthusiasm and haven't been for some time, but I'll still stick around for the rest of the Parliament and collect 100% of my salary, plus expenses." I mean, what a cu...
If he quits now then there is a bi election that is paid for by the tax payer. Do you think elections are free?
"Politics is a vocation, not a career"
Sir Charles Walker couldn't be more wrong. It's neither! It's a sinecure. A subsidised, overpaid seat on the gravy train doing a job which requires no set skills or qualifications or experience, where there are no performance indicators or measures and which comes with the right to undertake as many additional paid jobs as you like whilst providing a featherbedded gold plated retirement supported by the public sector's only non contributory pension scheme.
Sir Charles could certainly be more wrong.
It is not a sinecure....unless you want it to be. Many MPs work very hard indeed especially Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet members. Denis Skinner was a famous workaholic.
It most certainly requires skills. If I'm wrong you try it and show us all how easy it is. Fair?
The voting record is a "performance indicator" as is the attendance record.
You really need to stop talking trash.
@@Dingbat-tb5wz The dingbat part of your tag here is very apt
Devils advocate if it's such a great deal then why don't we all do it? For every MP there'll be people who volunteer for years or run and don't get elected.
@@markhayward7400 One of the reasons I continue to use it is to tempt out those clowns who think to use it against me. It's particularly diverting when they implicitly concede this is all they have to say by not saying anything else.
You don't understand how transparent you are.
@Dingbat-tb5wz I do understand exactly how transparent I am, thank you. I meant to insult you. Afterall, only someone severely lacking in brain power could actually believe that being an MP is a hard job or that MPs work hard. Your credulity must be a real boon to the MP you elect
Boris took his party for granted also he only cares about himself
I like this guy.
I don't agree with him on everything, far from it actually. But at least he speaks intelligently, coherently and in a style that I would much prefer politics to be. On the Leader of the Opposition he can say he admires him without being too deferential and criticize his politics without appearing to trash him. He can say he likes John Bercow while disagreeing with him. His politics aren't mine but his style is very appealing to me.
"he has many upsides". 😂
Great that he takes inspiration from his stepfather. Good move.
I've just retired at 62 because I'd "had enough" too. It's a brilliant feeling. It's not burnout. YOLO and all that. 👍
He's less of a rupert than his name suggests.
The only qualification torys need is being posh and self-love !
'......... we played too many games!' referencing '17 to '19. Your not kidding :(
My not kidding? What about his not kidding?
You might be missing my Northern sarcasm pal, its generally quite thick :)@@TesterAnimal1
He lost me when he said: 'I love Rishi Sunak'
Sir Charles Walker is actually a really good MP. Has helped a lot with mental health and open with his own condition. And supporting the rights to protest during covid.
Unfortunately he's part of a party that in government has underfunded mental health provision, perhaps fatally so...
And yet he collided with destroying the NHS and mental health services. Sorry, not buying it. If he had any integrity he wouldn’t be a Tory.
this guy is erudite clever and also thoughtful and presents his angles and veiws cogently and with great clarity. refreshingly brighteyed and direct he has a compelling and appealing persona. he flew under my radar but now i will check him out some more. a good guy methinks he should have had more traction within the party. he is surprisingly magnanimous and appears devoid of bitterness. all in all a better version of what a good parlimentarian should be . .
Walker was always one of the more decent and forthright MPs.
and these are the sort of decent public servants that inane ideology is driving away - a great loss to our country and great thanks for your service
A great series of interviews.
This guy is quite quick off the mark with his CV recitations and listing all his achievements and strengths. Next.
No time for anyone who thinks Johnson was ok
Really loved this interview
Why?
@rosendo3523 A honest perspective on politics. I wouldn't agree with the politics of the party he represents, but it was obvious he was frustrated at the direction his party was taking. I'm glad in some ways we have politicians who aren't interested in climbing the greasy poll but are content on serving their constituents.
Whether we like it or not, MPs do have to be paid more. If you want to recruit people at the top of their careers to come into politics you can’t reduce their pay. So if they are a top GP or surgeon you’ve gotta pay them £120-£150k. Great CEOs will be on £200-£300k
He seems totally oblivious to those outside of his world in his beloved Westminster, his constituents come well down the pecking order to his lovey dovey fellow MPs. He loves his job so much he standing down.??????
Interesting discussion about MPs salaries - I think MPs should be banned from taking second jobs (and also we should move to a system where government ministers don’t have to split their time between being a constituency MP and being a minister) and then their salaries should be increased. £86,000 is absolute peanuts compared to being a successful solicitor or in finance etc. I think he’s right that the best people (apart from a few very humble people who don’t care about the money - but they might only care about power which is probably worse than becoming an MP rather than a lawyer because the salary is competitive and actually adding value for positive change) will go and ‘make their mark’ elsewhere unless it’s a competitive salary.
Another good Matt Chorley interview. Can you also post Graeme Hall's Cabinet of 🐶🐕🐶?
‘Sir’
Tells you all you need to know
"I love Rishi Sunak". Look at this guy.
Love Rishi Sunak for his diligence - OK, more is needed to make him fit for the job.
Does he mean Johnson down sides that he is lying "unt.
As well as cretinous maximus being as thick as severil buckets of excreta ..... yeah probably
Stanley Johnson wrote the blueprint for the Covid issue in a book dated 2019 called 'The Virus'!
False mate. It was 1982. There have been soooo many books about viruses, pandemics, etc. it is a pretty common subject matter, many of those books were made into feature films in the 70's, 80's and 90's. I remember Dustin Hoffman in Outbreak, and Charton Heston in Omega Man. More recently, 28 Days Later, the 5th Wave, and Patient Zero.
So nothing sinister, just chance. And if you think not then _any_ of the authors, directors, actors, producers, of _any_ of these other books, screenplays, films, etc. could _also_ have mysteriously _invented_ Covid, right?
Most people worked Boris Johnson out years ago.Unfortunately not enough.😂
Upside 1: He gained 300,000 votes for the Tories
Upside 2: He didnt lose 4,000,000 votes like Corbyn did for Labour.
Upside 3: He's taken corrupted, decrepit little sychophants, down with him, into the political abyss. Where you all belong
Starmer’s Brexit policy delivered that 2019 result, just compare w/2017, and he’s looking to be PM as his reward.
@@ejws1575 It was Corbyn and co. bringing their opinions of the EU straight from the '80s. In other words, hating the EU like Benn did.
I disagree, I think sticking with that opinion -being open about it - would've resonated with a public that had just voted leave. I think it was his weakness in dealing with the 2nd Ref crowd that doomed him, which then made the antisemitism accusations stick somewhat as he looked dodgy/unforthcoming on a core issue (Brexit). The ref wasn't legally binding so there was plenty of opportunity to fob people off with concessions from Brussels without leaving the Customs Union and Single Market. Personally I think it must have suited certain parties to have it be this big chaotic national debate.@@jesush.tap-dancingchrist7328
They want more money and yet have 2 or 3 jobs no way no 2 jobs mps should be MPs full stop and 86000 is enough
He backed Brexit, Boris and Penny Mordant. Says it all
It was very very difficult for him
The music is really over dramatic.
Walker is as bad as Johnson.
Unbelievable! I've never heard a more deluded back bencher.
19:44 contrast with Truss who just comes off as high strung and incapable of not talking like an oblivion NPC
Quite a nice bloke for a Tory.
Boris Johnson, shy? Pahahahahahahahahaaa
You can lead a horse to water but……?
Boris? Upsides? really? Please explain?
A Tory worried about regular people, imagine that?
Is this why he is stepping down?
Sheen
"A few down sides"...
Errrrrm like being an inveterate liar.
How boring. Get to the bit about slagging off Boj,
FFS A Tory being truthful
This interviewer ‘Matt Chorley’ should have his hard drive checked
Bring back poor old boris the greatest leader this country has ever seen
You must really hate this country.
You are being really sarcastic? Right?
Boris came after Cameron and he will come after Cameron again. Cameron will approach Britain to EU. Boris supports brexit=selfdetermination
Boris support Boris and nothing else.
You have been CONNED.
the poor man suffers from toryism
A very good man and a good politician
Good? How
That is an oxymoron
Agree.
He colluded in the destruction of the NHS and the mental health services. I don’t think that makes him a good politician. Or even a good human being.
How can someone who supports Boris Johnson be 'a good politician'? Please explain.
Good to know the Times let the Tory politician see all the interview questions in advance. Great journalism guys. Just great…..
Every single political interview will have questions in advance. Even question time has questions in advance. How can you not realise that?
How is it a bad thing to let people have answers they have time to prepare and research? Wait until you find out about panel shows...
He said he saw one - doesn't mean he saw all of them; though if he did .... I don't see the point of even bothering to interview him, he could have telephoned the answers in. On the whole, though, I find these broadcasts interesting, and, up to a point, useful. I think I knew already, having met a fair number of them, that politicians are "human" - on the whole again; I'm not so sure that all that many of them have good judgement - and Johnson's quite lousy judgement stretches way beyond bad hiring decisions.
Curtesy of Rupert Murdock productions.
It's a pretty lighthearted show, wind your neck in.
@@SuperMikeFraser - you live in a world where it’s perfectly reasonable, indeed acceptable and expected, for politicians - the people we pay - get advanced notice of every question they are going to be asked in every interview every politician has ever done? No wonder Conservatives get fooled so easily. They have no expectation of standards at all.
What a horrible person
He's not a quare is he? Best check with Bunny to be sure.
Who cares what this guy thinks?
🤮🤮
So he thinks middle class professionals are the only people qualified to go into politics, he's obviously been hanging around labour too much.
So you are saying only the poor and possibly under-educated are allowed to be Labour politicians or voters? What an ignorant comment!
Matt Chorley weally is a gweat wadio pwesenter! He waises weally welevant issues. He weally is first wate! No one wanks higher.
Part of his OCD was to keep stealing your money. !!
All of the U.Ks problems can be blamed on one group of people. The poor's. If they were exterminated all of the problem's would be solved.
Why don't you emigrate to Israel and see your buddy Netanyahu
@@gordonaliasme1104 You are antisemitic. I own many shares in various Corporations. One is the private prison industry in the U.S. Would you like me to send you to one of those prisons?
VOTE REFORM!!
Boris the Great 🫵🇬🇧
I can't see anything you've done for your constituents except having a super time. How much of your lifelong pension do you get if you quit for being grumpy with your constituents or if you only feel 95%???