Political Opportunity.

[Sqad]

https://news.sky.com/story/london-bridge-attack-victim-jack-merritts-father-accuses-boris-johnson-of-trying-to-score-election-points-11882986

John Merritt's father accuses Boris Johnson of political opportunism concerning the death of his son, then does an interview with Beth Rigby 2 days before voting day......THAT is political opportunism, in my opinion.

One cannot imagine the pain and the anguish that his father and family were exposed to and the torture and torment of the death of his son who was an advocate and believer of rehabilitation.
He is entitled to his opinion which has great support but not everyone agrees with him and would certainly support longer sentences.
People die tragically every day, mothers, fathers, children but life for others goes on and we are in the middle of an election and it is understandable that political points, meant or incidental may be registered.

My point being that Mr Merritt is just as culpable of making a political point as is Boris Johnson

[CrapAtCryptics]

I`d bet a fiver that Mr Merritt Snr votes labour.

[Ken4155]

Irony has been mentioned. The irony being that almost every reply to sqad's OP has been by way of political point scoring:-//

[Deskdiary]

Gulliver at 6.27pm "Would you have agreed with Boris if it had been a son of yours?."

As soon as a 'whataboutery' argument is used, it is an argument lost.

[anotheoldgit]

At that time Boris had no idea that the killer had been released from prison early, in fact it is true to say that he even existed.
Having then being aware of the fact, it is only natural that he said what he did.
Incidentally Boris made an offer to meet Mr Merritt but he refused to meet the PM.

[Ken4155]

^
Where did you get that snippet of info from, AOG? Mr Merritt told Sky News that no-one from number 10 had been in touch but that the police liaison officer said to him, "I've been asked if you'd like to meet Priti Patel, for her to express her condolences." To which Mr Merritt simply replied, "No, thank you."

[anotheoldgit]

I may have misheard it, but they refused to meet the Home Secretary.

/// The only contact made by the authorities came via a police liaison officer who asked if the family would like to meet home secretary Priti Patel so that she could offer her condolences, which they declined. ///

[Peter Pedant]

// the police liaison officer said to him, "I've been asked if you'd like to meet Priti Patel, for her to express her condolences." To which Mr Merritt simply replied, "No, thank you."// oh whoops

the police liaison - previously FLO's ( fambly) have a chequered history. They were meant to be the bridge between police and the bereaved family. But with Steven Lawrence they were the ones passing the names of the protesters ( the police aint done a fracking fing!) to MI5. secretly. So secretly that within a few days (!) Doreen said she only wanted to speak to them thro her solicitor. oh.

so why were the police in the Merritt family taking messages to and fro the politicians? They STILL havent worked out what police liaison is about.