Mr Bobbie And Me Have Just Had This Thought Provoking Conversation

[Bobbisox1]

I said as much as I like Boris, I don’t think he’s good in front of people yet he’s a good narrator behind a lectern or within 10 Downing Street ,
He said,” I can’t think of any of our past PMs who could carry the title of being a Statesman”
I think we’d have to go quite far back to find one, what do you think and why ?

[naomi24]

Woofgang, //At least I can be proud of the fact that I saw straight through Tony Blair and never voted for him.//

But had you been raised in Labour-worshipping communities like bobbi and me where we were taught to believe that the Conservatives were the epitome of the Devil's spawn?

[NickorWan]

I have to agree that Churchill and Thatcher are the only two that fit the bill. One can’t really be a statesman though unless the situation allows it. It did for both Churchill and Thatcher who took office at difficult times and were able to get the vast majority on their side. I doubt, for example, that either one of them could have given a speech to the house on Brexit that would have resulted in the whole house waving their papers in support, or that got the whole country behind them. We are facing difficult times now and Boris has a chance to emulate their leadership and steer us through.

[woofgang]

The Great Lady and The Great Man

and who are they?

[woofgang]

Woofgang, //At least I can be proud of the fact that I saw straight through Tony Blair and never voted for him.//

But had you been raised in Labour-worshipping communities like bobbi and me where we were taught to believe that the Conservatives were the epitome of the Devil's spawn?

No Naomi I wasn't. Both my parents were working class from working class backgrounds and communities but my Dad in particular was a thinker. he wasn't interested in politics but took voting seriously and would vote for the party he thought we needed at the time. He hadn't had much education, was an orphan from Yorkshire who joined the army a year younger than he should have to escape being sent to be a farmworker or to work on the fishing boats.

[woofgang]

oh and many folk who weren't raised in rabid Labour Party communities were fooled by Blair.

[Bobbisox1]

My Dad was also a thinker who never told anyone how he voted , it was not the done thing back in the day , he may have even voted Tory, we never knew but he wasn’t a ‘ pack ‘ follower either and looked at the marches and galas with a bit of distaste

[woofgang]

My Dad would never tell who he had voted for but he used to talk to us about what he thought of the party's policies and leaders.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, that explains it.

[naomi24]

Actually, I know people like that now - who were brought up ‘Labour’ and still cling doggedly to their roots. Our very own Mikey was one such. Come the last election, given the choice between Boris and Jeremy, friends of ours were in such a dilemma. Their roots told them they must vote Labour - their fathers would turn in their graves, etc - but common sense told them that a vote for Labour would be folly indeed. My advice to them was ‘Grit your teeth, hold your nose, and vote Boris’. They did - and they’ve not regretted it. I really think they’ve experienced a new found freedom.

[woofgang]

my late beloved ma in law's family were like that....though she had "married above herself" and was being a traitor to her class because my husband went to college as an officer cadet and not an ordinary seaman (merchant navy) She was widowed and when she met and married a lovely man who was a pub landlord, they cut her off completely because he wasn't a "working man". I have no idea how they thought a pub was run but I have done it and you don't put your feet up and whistle!

[woofgang]

not "though" "thought"

[jourdain2]

woof - I am also glad that I never voted for Blair. I very nearly did. Mr. J2 (solid Tory. family) actually did vote for him - couldn't stomach Major and the Con. party at the time. He now regrets it - but didn't feel to have much choice at the time.