A Turning Point For Boris Johnson

[Gromit]

A bad day for the PM, and most of the lethal blows coming from his own party. Can he recover and fight the next General Election.

Boris Johnson faced a wall of fury from all wings of the Conservative party over the UK’s conduct in Afghanistan, with 11 former cabinet ministers among the dozens of MPs and peers expressing their anger and frustration at Britain’s failures in intelligence and preparation.

// During a torrid session in the House of Commons, the overwhelming majority of Tories who spoke condemned Britain’s failure to anticipate the Taliban takeover of Kabul and its perceived humiliation on the world stage. More than 30 Tory MPs spoke against the government, while only a handful voiced support for its actions. //

[jno]

he was just about to leave on holiday when Kabul was taken, wasn't he? And Raab too? Clearly they had no idea, which is extraordinary for ... let me check ... a prime minister and a foreign secretary.

[david small]

If the lump chump got kicked out who would replace him? A turnip? Jacob Rees mogg would suit but he’s too clever to take the job.

[brainiac]

I asked this on another thread, but nobody came up with any answer: where the hell is the Afghan Army? In all the newspapers I've read and all the TV reports I've seen, no mention has been made of them.

They were trained and equipped these past many years by the USA and UK at huge expense, but the Taliban have trundled into all towns and then Kabul in their rusty pickup trucks and on the back of old mopeds without a single shot being fired. Where have they all been for the past several years?

[douglas9401]

Please bear in mind it's just Boris being Boris.

Repeat until the end of time.

[jno]

the huge expense didn't ncessarily trickle down to the soldiers; I read that soem of them had trouble even getting paid. If soldiers don't want to defend a corrupt American puppet ruler, I don't blame tehm.

Meanwhile the president has turned up in the UAE saying rumours that he had travelled there with a large amount of money were "completely baseless" and "lies".

[Hopkirk]

Surely the blame should be aimed at George W and Tony Bliar.

[Stickybottle]

Absolutely nobody expected the Taliban to advance as quickly as they did
Not even coalition military intelligence if you look at the scenes of Kabul airport so why Boris was expected to know is a bit beyond me
Maybe he took the word of the Afghan government who said they were going to deploy all their resources to protect Kabul when all they did was abandon ship 24 hours later

[Jackdaw33]

I too think Boris is being unfairly criticised. Once the US decided to pull out the UK had no option but to follow.

[Peter Pedant]

It seemed so obvious to me
that I thought they had just all given up - the western policians that is

isnt Karzai there? which goes to show as in Viet that the so called western supporters were parlaying with the Taliban all the while.

the only surprise is - -- they were surprised

[Peter Pedant]

// Jacob Rees mogg would suit but he’s too clever to take the job.//

erk yeah OK if you say so - - this is AB

[ichkeria]

Jacob Rees-Mogg?

Good grief.
There are as we all know two Tories in the world: he and BJ ;-)

Anyway yes it was well not so much a turning point as another hearty shove.
You remember when Corbyn got up to speak in the Commons and the looks he used to get behind his back from some Labour MPs?
Those were beams of affection compared with the expressions on some faces yesterday. And that’s because patience is already worn thin. His ratings have plummeted in the last few months

[bakerwales]

With everything that has happened since the last election - Thousands of so called refugees in boats over the channel (most are economic migrants), no sign of the social care charter which was promised and now the triple lock probably being cancelled this year and Afghanistan my confidence in this government is low. Ok Covid was handled pretty well but that seems to be all. My cross in the ballot box next election will not be going in the conservative box.

[emmie]

mine will however because the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

[ToraToraTora]

Don't get too excited Gromit, The PM is mid term mid crises and Rodders is about as popular as a jam tart in a space suit. Plenty of time to get back to the important work of wiping the floor with Labour at the next election. You'd do better speculating who the next lamb to the slaughter will be in your beloved Labour party. 1974 is nearly half a century ago! Nothing to see here.

[ToraToraTora]

brainiac: "I asked this on another thread, but nobody came up with any answer: where the hell is the Afghan Army? In all the newspapers I've read and all the TV reports I've seen, no mention has been made of them. " - you're in esteemed company me old china, Joe Biden was asking that yesterday too!

[douglas9401]

Miss, miss, somebody's torn pages from my history book.

[ToraToraTora]

sticky: "Absolutely nobody expected the Taliban to advance as quickly as they did " - indeed, no one expected the country would not fight for itself, they might as well have rolled out the red carpet.

[emmie]

melted away TTT like ice cream in the desert sun

[ToraToraTora]

bakerwales: "My cross in the ballot box next election will not be going in the conservative box. " - how would Agent Cobb and the abacus have handled things more to your liking?

[ichkeria]

The popularity of Keir Starmer isn’t really relevant.
He’s never going to be “popular” it probably float around at more or less the same approval rating.
It’s Johnson’s standing that counts.
If he’s seem as incompetent or a liability he’ll be out.