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Raab last spoke to Boris on Saturday, is it me or does that not sound good.
Hopefully it’s not a bad sign as regards his eventual recovery, but is an indication that we have an absent PM who is too egotistical to do what is right and ask someone else to step into the role for a week while he recovers, even if that is what the country needs.
Prime Minister is a role, not just a title.
[agree with Kimbers]
Raab last spoke to Boris on Saturday, is it me or does that not sound good.
is it me or are people getting more vague?
Do you think one or both of them is dead? that Raab's been sacked? Raab is avoiding Boris assuming he'll die leaving him as PM?
EDIT: subsequent commenters have made some more sense
is it me or are people getting more vague?
Well the posters after understood, for you, the bloke 2nd in charge and doing tonight's update hasnt spoken to the bloke in charge for a few days which suggests he must actually be pretty ill and if the bloke in charge is ill no decisions on anything can be made!
Hopefully it’s not a bad sign as regards his eventual recovery, but is an indication that we have an absent PM who is too egotistical to do what is right and ask someone else to step into the role for a week while he recovers, even if that is what the country needs.
Would he be the first world leader to be incapacitated by the virus? Have we had a prime minister who has to step down for medical reasons?
Maybe he has an eye on history and avoiding being the first in either.
Perhaps, just making sure no one gets the Europeans involved?
You never really know with the mendacious Mr Johnson.
Raab last spoke to Boris on Saturday, is it me or does that not sound good.
The appalling Raab C Brexit is now running the country. Someone at Classic Dom HQ has worked out that's not a good look hence the repeated assurances that Johnson is propped up in his hospital bed and controlling things with the help of a cabinet of moth-eaten teddy bears.
So no, that doesn't sound good.
Might be time for that govt of national unity after all. Especially now there is an adult in charge of the opposition.
Good summary thx. Cummings strikes me as pretty smart but not as smart as he thinks and I don't put much stock in behavioural science myself; people have an unknowable aspect which science will never grasp.
who's fronting up for the news outlets at the moment ?
Guardian reporting that "The prime minister is continuing to run the country from his hospital bed".
Surely a) this is the worst kind of presenteeism, b) I don't want a man who is potentially confused due to hypoxia running the country and c) given BoJo's well documented lack of work ethic and attention to detail, I doubt he is or was doing much actual running himself anyway.
The appalling Raab C Brexit is now running the country
I don't do politics much, but to be honest, EVENTS are running the country. I don't think it really matters who is or is not the leader, they could not be in "control".
Might be time for that govt of national unity after all. Especially now there is an adult in charge of the opposition.
I think it is.
I don’t do politics much, but to be honest, EVENTS are running the country. I don’t think it really matters who is or is not the leader, they could not be in “control”.
Yes, I get that, my post was mostly sardonic. But this is a government that's all about appearances. The illusion of control matters to them politically even if to the rest of us it's effectively a side-show.
Like others here, I'd welcome a cross-party government with Starmer having a significant input. Apart from anything else. I have no belief that Johnson for one has any care for anyone other than himself, though maybe copping a dose of the virus himself will encourage a little genuine empathy.
It's more about governing well in response to events or making the least worse decisions. This twin health and economic crisis can't be solved with spin and narratives, bluster (Boris) or trite slogans (Cummings). It needs adults at the wheel.
Does Johnson think he’ll be thanked for this “leading from my hospital bed” farce?
Does Johnson think he’ll be thanked for this “leading from my hospital bed” farce?
I reckon TJ might. 😂
Maybe he's more concerned about being lorded over by Trump if the tangerine one gets through unscathed.
Poor guy.
I do hope he's going to be okay. 🙏🏻
Oh dear - poor guy
Really feel for his girlfriend. The position she is in now is awful. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
Hope he's ok but it seems more serious than the press statements are making out. Everything is always a 'precaution'.
Wouldn’t wish this on anyone, hope he pulls through and makes a full recovery
So far it's been a 50/50 survival rate for those that enter ITU.....
Not a good state of affairs for the nation.
Regardless of politics that's horrible for him.
Now PM is in ICU Raab is the man in charge. This should be interesting.
(The bollocks about being in charge this afternoon demeans the team running comms as it was quite obvious that he was very poorly from last night and the lie would be exposed. Why bother it just undermines the messages that come out in the future).
I really hope I;m wrong, as I'm one of the few on here that think he is a decent guy underneath all the bluster,and the Government are doing a pretty decent job, but, at work today, I said I wouldnt be surprised if BJ dies, he's had it 10 days, and took a turn for the worse, it isnt a good outlook.
Last time a sitting UK leader was as unwell as this? I couldn’t even guess (not that my history knowledge is great)
Time for a government of national unity?
Well bugger me.
not his biggest fan,but dont want anyone to be so ill they are in hospital let alone in itu,best wishes to him,but hes unlikely to read a niche cycling forum posting.
While I don't mind seeing him suffer a bit, no one deserves any of what is going on.
neither him, his girlfriend, many children and the unborn one.
fingers crossed he beats the odds for itu as the numbers are not good
A horrible disease, wouldn’t want that for anyone no matter what I thought of them
Last time a sitting UK leader was as unwell as this? I couldn’t even guess (not that my history knowledge is great)
last pm to die from an illness in office was pitt "three-bottle man" the younger 1806
last pm to die from an illness in office was pitt the younger 1808
Thanks!
Time for a government of national unity?
Was thinking this. Regardless of if he survives it’ll be a long road back to full enough health to be a fully fledged PM.
Soooooo, change my sterling currency holdings to Euros based on the 50:50 chance that Boris cops it?
Quick, someone encourage me so I don’t feel as morally bankrupt.
So we have Dominic Rabb going to be in charge now
last pm to die from an illness in office was pitt the younger 1808
Not according to Wikipedia:
Seven Prime Ministers have died in office:
Lord Wilmington, who died on 2 July 1743, aged 70.
Henry Pelham, who died on 6 March 1754, aged 59.
Lord Rockingham, who died on 1 July 1782, aged 52.
William Pitt the Younger, who died on 23 January 1806, aged 46, the youngest to die in office.
Spencer Perceval, who was assassinated by John Bellingham on 11 May 1812, aged 49.
George Canning, who died on 8 August 1827, aged 57.
Lord Palmerston, who died on 18 October 1865, aged 80 (two days before his 81st birthday); the oldest to die in office.
yes my memories going i even had the date wrong 😕
Canning was an interesting one, his predecessor Liverpool was forced to step down due to a stroke (IIRC from which he died a year later the same year as Canning) The regency was pretty grim time for british pm's
Have we had a prime minister who has to step down for medical reasons?
Harold Wilson, Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden.
Soooooo, change my sterling currency holdings to Euros based on the 50:50 chance that Boris cops it?
Seriously man, what is wrong with you? Someone is possibly going to die here, and you post something like that.
Regardless of what I think of the man and his politics I genuinely hope he pulls through on this one. My understanding that icu doesn't mean a ventilator, but if he requires one of those his chances go down remarkably.
If anything good is to come of this it is to underscore the seriousness (If anyone needed it emphasising) of this disease. Boris may not be an athlete, but he's only 55, and presumably has been given the best possible treatment available. This just goes to show there are no hidden cures for the rich and powerful, no secret drugs that the plebs don't have access to. Fundamentally anyone can get this and it's a bit of a lottery if you end up completely xxxxxx by it.
Best wishes for a recovery for anyone fighting this.
We've a family here who lost gran in the house today - 30 mins from onset of cough and breathing difficulties to death. ☹️
In hindsight, you can see them last few weeks how many of the cabinet seemed to have it and be near each other or returning to work too quickly.
I also think a government of national unity for the next few months would makea lot of sense and stop any political point scoring.
Ooh look a Raab in the headlights