Would A Man Of British Heritage Have Made The Gaffe...

[sandyRoe]

...which caused distress to so many of our people?

I'm thinking of the D Day commemorations.

Perhaps a man who might fail Norman Tebbit's 'cricket test' isn't fully aware of our sensibilities when it comes to the sacrifices of the war.

[Hopkirk]

What amazed me is to find that the decision to return early was made a while ago, before the election was called.

It had nothing to do with the election!

[jno]

the interview isn't even due to be broadcast for a few days yet. It wasn't a necessary rush job.

The crazy thing is him leaving what was probably the final D-day ceremony to give an interview about things he's said about Labour - and then denouncing Labour for making it a party political issue. Hello?

[sandyRoe]

If this thread prompts one Tory to vote Reform, or better yet abstain, in the coming election it would show how bots could influence how some vote.

[Ellipsis]

> Nigel Farage has defended his claim that Rishi Sunak demonstrated he did not understand "our culture" by leaving D-Day commemorations early.

> The Reform UK leader told the BBC on Sunday the prime minister's action showed he was "disconnected by class [and] by privilege" from ordinary people.

Then that's what he should have said - especially as most people with "class and privilege" (like the King) understand exactly what D-Day meant.  It's clear what Farage was really getting at ...

[sandyRoe]

Not that this is the work of a bot but it might show how subtle, insidious, poison could be dropped into the ear of the body politic.

[DDIL]

It was very sadly clear what Farage meant when stating "he does not understand our culture"

But it will not make a difference to those people that hold Farage in high esteem as they have the same morals.

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, I assume you're hinting at race which is exactly what you were hinting at in your OP.  Why not say what you mean?

[ABSpareEditor]

This thread is open. 

[sandyRoe]

Naomi24,

I wasn't particularly thinking of race.  Some, for example, might feel a plutocrat can't begin to know the struggles of ordinary people.

Leave a gap and there's room to slot your own particular prejudice into it.

[ABSpareEditor]

This thread will be monitored closely. Be mindful of how you phrase your answers. 

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, as an educated, wealthy and successful man I think there probably is something in the notion that he is remote from the 'man in the street', but as someone born in the country he cannot possibily be unaware of the importance of our recognition of war heroes and anniversaries such as that we commemorated last week,  Furthermore as Prime Minister he is not - or should not be - ignorant of protocol.  In short,  he should have known better than to leave France early for self-serving reasons - and that, in my opinion, is exactly what he did.  His attempt to retain his premiership took precedence over all - and I don't think the electorate will forgive that.

[Peter Pedant]

persistent irrelevant off-thread Moderator bating,

certainly not - they are as a group the wisest people I have ever encountered. Their er medical knowledge leaps out at one.

Now can I re type a ... possibly irrelevant and spurious letter in the Times ( which will take a moment)

Dear Sir., President Biden and President Macron are both heads of state. Rishi Sunak is a mere prime minister. Our head of state, The King, was at the international D-Day commorations and will  be head of state after the 4 July elections. We should applaud Mr Sunak for being self-effacing  in the circumstances. ( N Russell - Cambridge)

I thought that !

In my opinion Mr Russell's is the only sensible post on this thread

[Old_Geezer]

Yes, but head of state is pretty much a show title when it comes to actually governing the nation. Sure, some nations combine the role with a more active involvement with government, but here, that part is mainly covered by the 'first among equals'. One can hardly say, with a straight face, that as royalty was present the head of our government can opt out without serious consequences to both themselves and their party (not to mention the nation's reputation).

[THECORBYLOON]

If it were because of his not having a British heritage and I don't believe that to be the reason, were all his advisors of a non-British heritage and equally ignorant of the consequences?

The interview had been arranged before the election had been announced so what was the subject of the interview that was so important he agreed to leave the commemoration early?

[Peter Pedant]

 but as someone born in the country he cannot possibily be unaware of the importance of our recognition of war heroes and anniversaries such as that we commemorated last week,  

no as a  Wykehamist ( winchester old boy - my post pointing this out seems to have gone the way of the world) he wd have known. I have it on good authority they include the second world war in their history syllabus.

I think ( irrelevantly or spuriously) that part of this is the Protestant preoccupation with the worship of the dead (dia de los muertos - Romans really get into the ting-a-ling and candles and incense). Big thing (no-no, banned action, taboo) in the reformation of Calvin and Zwingli. However, the English still wanted to do it, even tho it was clearly forbidden by the high-ups . Prayers for the dead, intercessonary prayer and chantries (+ masses for the dead: indeed any mass) all went up er in smoke around 1540

6 June 24 it turned into a 100m race of "I am more pious and reverent to the dead than you" and well played on AB!

(Any Roman ( me) wd say it was all rather underplayed. - Where are the cardinals ( red) thuribles ( incense thingeys) thurifers ( incense swingers) and Death Marches from Saul) and yes chanting by small boys

Matt 8.22 - let the dead bury the dead.

Odd thing for me - politicians ( all religions) congregating at one place, gathering then, and taking part in a sanitised protestant ritual. which is ritual and not political and forbidden in the High Anglican circles.