Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Soph0571

(9,685 posts)
Fri Jul 3, 2020, 07:00 AM Jul 2020

Boris Johnson says he would not take the knee: 'I don't believe in gestures'

Boris Johnson has said he would not take the knee, a symbol of support for Black Lives Matter protests, saying he does not believe in “gestures.”

Speaking on LBC on Friday morning, the prime minister said, “I do not believe in gestures, I believe in substance.”
---------
Mr Johnson told LBC radio host Nick Ferrari: “I don’t want people to be bullied into doing things they don’t necessarily want to do.”

Citing the fact that some officers in London allegedly felt coerced into taking the knee because their colleagues had done so, the prime minister said he believed the police should not make the gesture.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-take-knee-black-lives-matter-protests-a9599301.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1593764242]

In the least unsurprising news of the week the Prime Minister has confirmed that he is a white rich male pale and stale racist wanker... His substance is terribly unsubstantive. Save Churchill's Statue and put a very right wing person who has actively dismissed the notion of any systemic racism in the UK in charge of 'fixing' the BLM problem. Of course he would not take the knee.
11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Boris Johnson says he would not take the knee: 'I don't believe in gestures' (Original Post) Soph0571 Jul 2020 OP
Just curious. Does he bow his head in deference to the Queen? Siwsan Jul 2020 #1
Was thinking the same thing MaryMagdaline Jul 2020 #4
Being British, maybe he said he doesn't believe in 'jesters.' CurtEastPoint Jul 2020 #2
He doesn't believe in jesters? Cirque du So-What Jul 2020 #3
Bingo! CurtEastPoint Jul 2020 #5
How about the gesture of combing his hair? Ritabert Jul 2020 #6
No, no, he doesn't believe in gestures - that's why he was so keen to have Big Ben striking muriel_volestrangler Jul 2020 #7
Funny that.... Alacritous Crier Jul 2020 #8
However, he is quite fond of appearing like a foolish ass ChicagoRonin Jul 2020 #9
If it weren't him, I might, maybe could believe that from someone else. marble falls Jul 2020 #10
If anything were less true of Boris... LeftishBrit Jul 2020 #11

Siwsan

(27,325 posts)
1. Just curious. Does he bow his head in deference to the Queen?
Fri Jul 3, 2020, 07:05 AM
Jul 2020

I'm not comparing the reason motivating the two 'gestures' but they are both gestures of respect.

muriel_volestrangler

(102,633 posts)
7. No, no, he doesn't believe in gestures - that's why he was so keen to have Big Ben striking
Fri Jul 3, 2020, 08:47 AM
Jul 2020

the moment when the UK left the EU. Or the FT, 6 years ago, could say "Mr Johnson favours the grand gesture and the bully pulpit". Or why the Google search for "vanity project"+"johnson" returns over 75,000 hits: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22vanity+project%22+%22johnson%22

LeftishBrit

(41,307 posts)
11. If anything were less true of Boris...
Tue Jul 7, 2020, 08:42 PM
Jul 2020

than 'I do not believe in gestures, I believe in substance', it would be very hard to find it!

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»United Kingdom»Boris Johnson says he wou...