Why Boris Johnson Gave Up His Shot At Prime Minister

[@SeanBryantHayes]

The UK is very quickly catching up to the US as my favourite reality television series.

[@hgdvduwbddjehnhhdcnhdejche8202]

uk polititions r playing games of throne

[@Redwingsfan210]

this is not tv its real life with people's well being on the line here

[@Bayard1503]

So true!! :)) I gave up on a couple of TV shows just to watch the American Election :))

[@lukashansson731]

+Australian Progressive Not gonna start a Leave/stay debate but what do you mean that they don't vote on them directly? they have vote on who they way in the EU parlament that votes on which laws and policies should be passed within the EU.

[@timaustin2000]

+Chris P EU migrants are 60% less likely to claim benefits than UK natives and contribute, on average, £3bn a year more INTO the economy than they take. Both of these things are facts. The notion of economic migration being a drain on society is a red top tabloid scare story and that's all its ever been.

[@johnchessant3012]

Who's here now that Boris is the prime minister?

[@crazyman8472]

5 years later… 🤦‍♀️

[@grevberg]

The Brexit referendum is similar to the referendum in Greece when Syritza asked if the people would refuse the EU offer hoping they would approve it getting them off the hook. However the people said no causing all sorts of problems, like they hoped remain would win when it didn't it was a disaster.

[@Nightlurk]

Translation: "we all know whoever is going to be PM during this shitstorm WE created is going to have his political career trashed, and HELL NO it's not gonna be me"

[@dvderif]

it's the "Game of No One Wants the Throne".

[@MariE-bz2eq]

Would you want to be the guy who invoke article 50 and possibly cause the biggest recession in british history for the next 20 years? I don't care if you paid me a billion pounds or even euro's, I wouldn't be prime minister of the uk

[@poneill65]

Spot On! Cameron served up a masterful poison chalice by leaving Article 50 to his successor. Boris never really expected to win and has no plan of what to do now he has. Cameron's poison pill is the excuse for him to cut and run. Other Tories will sup the draft but only because they plan to use the resulting recession to complete their dismantling of the welfare state.

[@DrDetroit941]

Like when none of your friends want to be responsible to picking the restaurant.

[@Infernal460]

Pizza Hutt ?

[@IQQY99]

#CurseBorisJohnson May he never be 100% certain whether he locked his house door

[@Arvv0922]

hahaha

[@jamviator]

Geeze, why such a harsh curse?

[@yehiaal-melegi1113]

ouch, getting cursed by a queen :D sweet

[@IQQY99]

+Yehia AL-Melegi Lol

[@DrCalvinTeach]

Savage AF

[@samgeee2968]

Because he's waiting a few years and then he can look like the saviour after watching the new pm deal with all the shit storm he created

[@billyc2010]

nope, it's most probably because of the backlash he would receive. People don't like him.

[@samgeee2968]

+billyc2010 Yeah but that would be even worse now, if he waits people have the tendency to forget and it wont be as bad

[@stonkin72]

+Chris P not the FTSE 250 which focuses on UK companies. Also the markets have been calmed by the non trigger if article 50, from their point a view there is still a chance the UK won't commit economic suicide.

[@xCoNxKarMa]

+Chris P You do realise the UK is still in the EU? And, the FTSE100 has only stabalised due to the fact the UK looks more and more likely to stay within the EEA. Yes, the FTSE100 is back to pre referendum levels (contains many international companies by the way...), but the pound is not. But of course, keep spreading your lies. Have you even had the slightest bit of education in regards to economics?

[@xCoNxKarMa]

+Sam Geee No, he is not waiting, his political career is over. He is the General that led his army to the sound of guns and at the sight of the battlefield, abandoned the field. He has completely split the Conservative party and then futher split that split with his incompetence. Do you even follow British politics? People still don't give Labour MPs who voted for the Iraq war much credibility, the so called Blairites. The Chilcot report is out > 2 weeks I believe, it will give you an example of where people do not forget.

[@rojh9351]

For American viewers, Michael Gove can be compared to Bill O'Reilly; a former tabloid journalist who manoeuvred his way into power, Gove is convinced that the future looks like the 1950s.

[@JDrakeify]

Gove is more like Ted Cruz to Boris Johnson's Trump, in a way he is more scary because he genuinely believes what he says.

[@smozahrani]

I agree Trump more like Boris.

[@YooTooLoB]

Boris is like the guy who shows up at the party uninvited, starts a fight, throws the TV from the balcony, shits in the pool and then leaves.

[@peterliddy2386]

Excellent work guys. And great presenting.

[@odanobunaga4879]

Sick of the GOT references to be honest. Get over it, it's just a TV show.

[@IQQY99]

How dare you belittle the greatest show in history.

[@TheSuperSeanyo]

+London Queen Breaking Bad? The Sopranos? The Wire?

[@treym6250]

Nope nope nope. GoT>

[@KatalistProductionsKozzySasha]

It is a wonderful show, one of the best ever. Up there with The Wire, OZ, Twin Peaks, Breaking Bad, etc..

[@DeepSpaceNinja]

"It's just a TV show" is not a valid argument. And you are just a youtube commenter, so yeah.

[@YYYoannt]

Thank you for this excellent video. Now we understand a bit more why Boris Johnson refused to fight for the throne ;)

[@JadaLoveUK]

At least his hair is combed... For once.

[@anarchsnark]

This made me laugh so damn hard. XD

[@gmlaster]

Yeah, what's with that hair? Is he allergic to grooming?

[@johndavies9589]

it's his trademark. totally contrived.

[@zoneg7292]

I have a crush on you lol

[@mikewilliams8713]

Well done for cutting right through the complexities to the important issue.

[@ALadiesPage]

Boris did not expect that Britain would leave the EU he was doing what he always does, Trump-ing it. loads of doodoo in his pants now.

[@Ch31ck]

Boris Johnson looks eerily similar to Trump...

[@lookabomba32]

It's the hair....yep definitely the hair

[@rbesfe]

Have they ever been seen in the same place at the same time? I don't think so!

[@shame3857]

It's the slimy used car salesman look.

[@PristianoPenaldoSUIIII]

He's our resident hair monster.

[@FriedmanPinochet]

I've noticed the same exact thing.

[@vladark138]

Thank you for this great video. Frankly I mostly/only watch American politics because no one here seems to cover UK politics decently, it's boring and depressing. Nothing of your scope guys. I wish you would cover more of British politics.

[@BloodMoneyLLC]

Boris Johnson has a history of affairs. In any case, I'm rooting for Jeremy of House Corbyn to sit on the Throne!

[@stephenmarcus9601]

+DevorahHill No, Sanders isn't anti Israel and doesn't support academic boycott.

[@peteanderson17]

I'm backing the Queen in the North...Nicola Sturgeon...

[@SebastienNicoBear]

+DevorahHill if you think Corbyn is *anything* like Sanders you're a complete moron. There is absolutely no parallel to be drawn; Corbyn is *so* far to the left of Sanders it's untrue. He's also a whole hell of a lot less honest, completely bereft of Sanders' honesty and he's in the wrong party.

[@peteanderson17]

+Sebastien “Nico” Bear Really Seb? What has Corbyn been dishonest about? Take all the time you need..

[@Nemophilist850]

Please no. Corbyn is a lunatic.

[@Matthew_Hood]

Cenk was spot on in this one 👌👍

[@lucaviggiani2189]

The plan was that Boris was expecting remain to win. Before Cameron left office, which was always his plan at the end of this term, Boris would stand for conservative leader as a reforming "I'll bloody well sort out Europe" candidate, explaining that he only supported leave because Europe in its present form was not acceptable. He would then be swept to power on a wave of popularity, promising to be tough with Europe. The plan failed. He and Gove were so convincing, the U.K. voted leave. This was devastating for Boris because it meant that he was responsible for getting rid of Cameron and leaving Europe, that a lot of Conservatives are still keen on. Conservatives regard loyalty as more important than anything else and having stabbed Cameron and the country in the back, he knew he was finished. Gove steps in because of his rabid ambition. The party will support Theresa May as she is not guilty of any treachery. My theory, in a nutshell.

[@astrologylibrary]

That sounds very credible, Luca! Whether or not you're right on your theory that he planned to narrowly lose the vote, I think the reason why he dropped out of the race to replace David Cameron was that he knew that he would not command as much support as Theresa May (who was already well ahead in polling with Conservative Party MPs) and did not want to have to suffer a humiliating public defeat at this stage of his career. Further, I think he realised the extraordinary difficulty of the task that the next Prime Minister will face in handling the economy, and did not want his own political career to run aground over the exit negotiations' predictable failure to garner satisfactory compromises that would favour the UK. I think he was happy to leave someone else to do that unenviable job, and delay his Prime Ministerial ambitions until a later stage. Once the UK is out of the EU he can wait in the wings for a fresh opportunity to challenge for the leadership, hoping that by then he will no longer be held responsible for unseating David Cameron and for the adverse economic consequences of leaving the European Union, so he'll be able to campaign on a cleaner slate.

[@ayshas288]

EXACTLY!

[@SebastienNicoBear]

Aren't you lot missing Alex Jones??? 😂😂😂 I think you credit British politicians with way too much intellect. But do please keep it up, I'm having a right laugh.

[@astrologylibrary]

Personally, Sebastién, I don't take Alex Jones at all seriously in his views on European or British politics. It's outside what he knows, and he projects all kinds of fantastical theories that have no basis in reality. I think he should stick to domestic US politics. I am British, born and raised. My great-great-great-great-great uncle was the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated while in office. I think I have better insights into British politics than Alex Jones.

[@lucaviggiani2189]

+BobbyUK1979 Exactly. Look at what Bush and Blair cooked up to justify Iraq.

[@shaaanstar96]

So, Brits have their own Trump ha? IQ, hair and everything.

[@pierrethetrex1462]

I don't like Johnson, but he's not dumb and understands how politics work, unlike Trump

[@JackFury]

a journalist who moved into politics and become mayor of London

[@Nemophilist850]

Boris is very intelligent. The likeable buffon act is just that, an act.

[@JMALEEDY]

No no no borris is a smart bloke unlike trump.

[@JackFury]

I think he is an intelligent buffoon. Some of my friends and very smart, successful people but at the same time complete class clowns.

[@DeepSpaceNinja]

I guess they didn't want a clown with silly hair representing their country. Americans should take note.

[@TheBonzobonzo]

this was really well coverd by you guys! uk media has been absolutly twats about all this, thanks you for giving this time to the mess that is UK polticis as well

[@Kshaka]

SHAME!!! SHAME!!! SHAME!!! Dingdingding!!!

[@HannahGK]

Boris Johnson didn't want to go down in history as the Prime Minister who would be blamed for Brexit and the disintegration of the United Kingdom. He never really believed in Brexit - as recently as February, he said the only way to get the EU to accept reform was to vote out. But seeing the huge challenges Britain now faces, he decided not to have that stain on him.

[@ludongli6503]

Winter is Coming

[@legi0naire]

It's UK more like Rain is coming.

[@peteanderson17]

+Yaman Truest comment here 👍

[@BristolMatt]

Tbh rain never leaves! Haha

[@johnsamuels4048]

Americans don't know how much the UK hate Gove. He was head of Education from 2010-2015 and he became hated very quickly by people in education.

[@7orqu3]

It's closer to house of cards

[@matthewfield5748]

Funny thing is, house of cards was based on 1990s British political drama of the same name.

[@anananandsdsdsds3486]

Which was set in... the Conservative Party. Even by political standards, they're a snake-pit.

[@anananandsdsdsds3486]

And playing a MUCH nastier character. I remember the original House of Cards, and found the remake rather dull by comparison.

[@anananandsdsdsds3486]

www.amazon.co.uk/House-Cards-DVD-Ian-Richardson/dp/B00BM8STW0

[@anananandsdsdsds3486]

*sigh* I'd be more irritated, but my business is mostly export with no imported inputs, so I'm actually getting a modest windfall out of this whole embuggerance. Short term, that is. Long term, I have to live in a nation run by this shower of imbeciles.

[@GreenOnionBrother]

He doesn't want to be the leader, then he'd be open to criticism. He wants to be in the opposition and scream "boooh!" whenever he can. Responsibility is the last thing he wants.

[@michealfreer9283]

cameron is distantly related to the queen... just thought you might want know that

[@Empowerman]

Micheal, no surprises there. ha/Not. Thanks!!!

[@yarwood131]

Through one of Henry the 8th bastards

[@TheLordHWotton]

2019 Says : Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[@hassanalinoo]

Jeremy Corbyn for prime minister

[@topcat8804]

I'm British and this is the best analysis I've seen yet. Most British media is not independent and we have draconian libel laws so sometimes the best news is in HP, TYT or other US outlets. Well done Cenk.

[@fatdog2000]

Intresting theory but mine is that he did not believe that brexit would happen he knows he can not properly negotiate with the europeans for better trade deals like he promised the public thus the public will turn on him. Also i believe David cameron intentionally fucked him over by not invoking article 50 of the european union treaty, leaving that to be done by the next P.M which as a direct result of that will have to over see one of the worst finical periods of our countries history.

[@radu1337]

Yeah, there is something else. He didn't want to trigger Article 50, he doesn't want to be the fool that took the U.K. out of the EU. He never did want a Brexit, that's why he was advising caution and urged everyone not to take "hasty" decisions after the vote. He really wanted to be Prime Minister, but as soon as the vote came out in his favour, he withdrew. The whole Brexit thing was supposed to be about who will be Prime Minister, not about leaving the EU. Now it's suddenly very real, and the Brexit camp has no plan, they never did.

[@samanthanickson6478]

careful what you ask for, you just might get it. i hope the UK can pull through this without too much suffering.

[@mememachine8954]

Are you high? It is almost a certainty that we will sky rocket, we where impacted the least out of the European nations.

[@zacharycherif5525]

i actually saw it coming because of his speech after the vote. he was not betrayed he was not expecting to win the brexit

[@Sophiedorian0535]

There is no mystery to Boris's decision to stand down as a candidate. The referendum has revealed the complete profile of his electorate: its composition, its cohesion, its economic weight, its stability, its (in)flexibility, its loyalty, its courage, its discipline, and its endurance. In other words: his electorate (the Brexit voters) is NOT a party. It doesn't even remotely resemble one. That is why ALL of the British politicians have been chickening out: the prospect of having to serve a species of electorate they haven't been trained to serve, doesn't appeal to them in any way. The situation reminds me of Kurosawa's "The seven samurai". The electorate being the village, and the politicians being the samurai. Their success or failure is entirely dependent not on their fighting skills, but on their teaching and organising skills. It takes a rank of politician that the Roman Republic had, but the UK lacks completely: the "Tribunus Plebis".

[@hoptop77]

With Scotland and northern ireland wanting to leave UK if we leave, no one has the balls to push that leave EU button and rightly so. Who wants to be the person who is responsible for breaking up the UK.

[@TMLCJLK]

So many GoT quotes! By the way, "spoiler alert" man. :P

[@shaguar1]

David Cameron: "And now my watch is over"

[@MarkLawrence2]

An excellent summary and analysis of these crazy events. If you ever thought that House of Cards and Game of Thrones were unrealistic or implausible, this shows that they're not ! The stories of most movies and dramas pale in comparison to the crazy back stabbing and treachery that's going on in British politics right now. You probably couldn't make up some of this stuff !

[@Theseus.Schulze]

ANOTHER GAME OF THRONES REFERENCE, CENK YOU ARE ON POINT!

[@donaldedward4951]

This was decided before the referendum but announcing it before or during the referendum would have queered the chances of the "leave" campaign. Gove has promised Johnson the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister).

[@singhrais]

Nicola Sturgeon: The Queen in the North! The Queen in the North! The Queen in the North!

[@SoulEaterTV101]

Nicola Sturgeon, The Queen Beyond the Wall!

[@Socrates...]

David Cameron resigned because he did not want to deal with the aftermath of the 'Brexit' vote. I believe that Boris Johnson sidestepped being voted the Conservative leader for the same reason. Let Theresa May stabilise the ship and later on Boris will re-emerge from his bunker to play for leadership.

[@cruxcommissa]

For Americans, what happens now is that the Conservative party MPs have to whittle the currently 5 prospective leaders down to 2. Gove and May are highly likely to be those 2. After that, the Conservative party members (around 150,000 people) vote to select the new leader and Prime Minister. Theresa May is currently the favourite because she is seen to be a unifying force within the party (having been in favour of leaving beforehand but quietly campaigning for remain during the referendum campaign). She is very much an establishment candidate, having been the Home Secretary (the third highest position in British politics) for 6 years. This could also be said for Gove as he is the Justice Secretary, but he is unpopular with the British public (unlike Johnson). The other 3 people have also held Cabinet positions (2 currently and 1 in the past, albeit not for very long) so could also be considered part of the establishment. It was never guaranteed that Johnson would've won the leadership, because while he is/was popular with the public, a sizeable number of Conservative MPs were determined for him not to win, going so far as to find an 'Anyone but Boris' candidate (hence May).

[@h.ellislindsey1808]

love the GOT parallels! the crowns cracked me up

[@khoatran4306]

Cenk, that was a beautiful analysis. Love the GOT references!

[@edmondoconnell1305]

Boris knows what he is doing, he doesn't want to be known as the man who pressed the button, if and when this all goes sideways in a few years he will come out and gain support by saying this isn't the Britain people voted for, he knows this isn't going to work and is looking to the future

[@nameisamine]

Michael Gove betrayed his allies not once but twice. He stabbed David Cameron in the back going to the Leave side, then used Boris' popularity, charisma and lovable personality to get extra votes for Leave, (they couldnt have won without Boris' contribution quite frankly). Then, after Leave wins and Cameron resigns Gove promises that he won't run and doesn't ever wish to be PM - in fact, he said many times over the years in interviews that he would never want that job whilst it's a known fact Boris always had the Premiership in his sights. Then, less than an hour before Boris is about to announce his candidacy for PM with Gove championing him as campaign manager, Gove quits Boris' campaign without warning and announces his own candidacy, throwing Boris under the bus and taking Boris' supporters with him leaving Boris with no option but to stand down. My gosh this has been an extraordinary 7 days in British politics.

[@HandleTurner]

That was very entertaining. Really fun report.

[@Khannea]

These collapsing oligarchies tend to show these temporary ham politicians float up and crash down.

[@Rucarlos]

So he throws the country into disarray and now leaves the hard work of fulfilling his idiotic promises when it becomes abundantly clear that they made a catastrophic mistake listening to him.

[@oneworld24]

He knows that there is no way in hell he can manage the exit

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

This situation is unprecedented with both our major political parties facing major internal infighting- at the same time. Actually not too different from the infighting in the Dems and GOP.

[@acacius9903]

Sipping tea and watching the UK and the US political chaos. What a mess ☕

[@vanessaaraujo5340]

Hahaahahha someone can't move on from the season finale. I feel you, bro...

[@rastus338]

Who the hell would want the leadership now? Lead Britain where? There doesn't seem to be an exit plan. The next leader will have to negotiate some pretty rough waters.

[@Cruithneach]

Cameron is third cousin to the Queen - he practically is royalty...

[@Cruithneach]

Thank you for that enlightening insight...

[@mynameispaul0530]

I seriously doubt Brexit will ever happen.

[@Child_of_Amun]

Lol, it already happened.

[@dontmakelemonade]

not yet.

[@JamesOsyris]

+Gamkha Sage No, it didnt

[@Angel7black]

+Gamkha Sage it actually didnt, its just got put in position. MPs havent voted and the referendum isnt legally binding. It was just a poll. Technically they they can just ignore it and not enact article 50. How likely that is idk, we'll see within two years

[@mynameispaul0530]

majority of UK were also against getting involved in Iraq - gov't didn't view that as a mandate either

[@attlee2010]

Rumours are Boris will soon become an editor of one of Rupert's biggest newspapers

[@bringiton5282]

Really ? Where did you hear that ?

[@NewKwanTung07]

The Julius Caesar reference was a hint. When standing before the people, Caesar had a crown beside him. Mark Anthony raised it to Caesar's head and the people started to jeer. Caesar pushed it away and the people "hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown". This happened 3 times. Boris refused to challenge the Conservative leadership because he knew the next leader will be detested. He/she will bear the brunt of a UK devoid of EU support, as well as the contumely of the masses. The next premiership will be short-lived. Boris will bide his time and wait for the moment when the people beg him to wear the leader's crown. This way he will secure his place in history (he is a classicist) not only as a passing memory but as one of the defining leaders of the 21st century. How very cunning...

[@jamiefly]

the establishment rules... unfortunately

[@billwinters8685]

Too bad Farage isn't in that party, he's the leader Britain needs!

[@SeumasMor]

There is another possibility too, Boris is a master of self preservation he has foreseen the hard times ahead following BREXIT, a huge recession, the collapse of the U.K. itself likely only leaving a Dual Kingdom of England and Wales, so the next prime minister, whoever that is, isn't likely to last too long. After these tides have settled (when Scotland and Northern Ireland have left the UK to remain European) that is when he will seise control of a near desperate Conservative party. I personally hope that this will be matched by a resurgence in the English/Welsh left as they will need it and hopefully by that point eveyone will have lost faith in Conservative politics. I am personally a Scottish Republican, and just hope that our separation will help trigger the change needed for England and Wales.

[@tomsmith2622]

But England and Wales are still European just because they voted to leave the European Union doesn't mean there not European

[@astrologylibrary]

I think you're right on the money here, Hamish! This is how I see his strategy too. The problem with his plan is that the British public and other politicians are not stupid enough to fail to see what he's up to. His behaviour is selfish and cowardly, and I agree totally with Michael Heseltine's reaction to it. If Mr. Johnson tries to return to the ring as Tory Comeback Kid to turn things around years down the line after the economy tanks, people won't forget that he was the one that made the mess in the first place.

[@MrDragon1968]

I'll explain from a British perspective; instead of Cenk's slightly long, weird pre-amble, framed in the way he'd like to see it from the US. Boris was not really a Brexiteer. He's never really been for Brexit- until about a month or so ago: when he suddenly announced that he was and thus joined the leave campaign. I know because I'm a Londoner and voted for him in mayoral elections in the past. We all know that Boris has always been looking for the top job all along: Prime Minister. He joined the leave campaign at the last minute because he knew he'd get a ton of grass root support from around the country in disaffected areas, it would raise his profile, and he is an excellent campaigner: one of the best. He didn't expect to actually win the leave vote. He was simply campaigning to be the next Prime Minister in a future election. When he actually won the leave vote- and please don't pretend it wasn't actually Boris who made the leave campaign cross the line- he freaked. He then wrote a very appeasing - to the remain side - article in the Telegraph suggesting many of the things he campaigned on wont fully be the case as we negotiate Brexit. His actual pro-leave side then freaked. That's when Gove (an absolutist Brexiteer), and arguably a very Machiavellian operator, stabbed him in the front- full and centre. This is the problem with Boris. He's a clever guy. But he says a lot of things he doesn't really mean. He's an Oxbridge student of political history, and seems to live his life based on what he thinks he's learnt from history. He's also an opportunist. But he also likes to be loved. He's a victim of himself and his own contradictions. And it just played out in the UK this week in what can only be described as a tragedy in Shakespearean form. It's sad what he became, but he completely deserves the consequences. If you're a remainer (like myself): you despise him for his betrayal of principles; and if you're a leaver: you also despise him for his betrayal of principles- despite the fact he won the leave campaign. But hey, ho. We have given the world a giant drama/freak show this week. I hope you bought some popcorn, because it ain't over yet.

[@groundzero1987]

Nigel Farage just left the sinking ship too ... I'm looking forward to season 2 of that batshit going crazy ~

[@BenCossette]

Love the Boris the Spider reference "his little spiders". Also Audi 5000 is a line I used to use.

[@TheMakersRage]

Chaos is a laddaahh!

[@tobymoby2940]

don't be fooled for Johnson's clownish demeanour. He's not an idiot. He started the brexit campaign to go against David Cameron and become popular with the electorate - which would power his own PM bid in 2020, not thinking that we would exit the EU. Now we have exited the EU,against all expections, he realises that the successor of David Cameron's position in untenable. The next PM must either overrule the referendum result keeping us in the EU, or leave the EU and risk us having a recession and in each instance admit we can't leave the single market and agree to the same immigration laws as we would have by staying I the EU - making leaving the EU pointless as that was the main point of the campaign. He'll be back to pick up the pieces after our next PM is very likely to become a failure... We need the Labour party to unify and get behind their elected leader as they should do. What they are doing to Jeremy Corbyn is taking all the pressure off the conservatives failure in the remain campaign, and placing the blame on themselves for a failed remain campaign, when the acting government should be more responsible.

[@BlackKevin808]

CENK AND HIS GAME OF THRONES REFERENCES ARE ON POINT. I LOVE IT!

[@crazyman8472]

I’m watching this video after “TLOR:TROP” has come out, and is getting creamed by “House of the Dragon”; it’s trippy as hell. 😵‍💫

[@Twilord_]

From what I hear, Borris never wanted Leave to win, he thought he could be the noble loser.

[@JAMAICADOCK]

'There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things'...... Niccolo Machiavelli

[@sregan5415]

Cenk, you are the master. One of the smartest guys I've known. Really, hat off to you sir, the master.

[@kayomholt-montague611]

At least the UK has people who are willing to quit/resign/step down! Some of our/the USA's politicians of "considerable, advanced years" could take a lesson!

[@chocomojo9552]

I don't think Boris gave up. He just loved partying more than politics.

[@Dan4x2282]

Spot on.

[@aperson22222]

Johnson should not have backed down. He could have seen Gove off easily enough.

[@andrewpollock4599]

They are a couple of tossers-not much to choose between them.May is the best of a bad lot.

[@walter0bz]

he was right to back down. he never really believed in brexit, he just wanted to ride a popularity wave. he knows brexit is a disaster,he didn't think the majority would be dumb enough to vote for it...

[@Zerofrust]

Gee, what happened? Why is he backing away from that hot potato? lol

[@The-ir1vj]

my guess the establishment told him that if he does not back out, shut up he is finished as a politician.

[@mcintyrec1981]

😂😂😂😂😂 he lead them to water but he didn't drink! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@MRAROCKERDUDE]

To be honest, I think I'd rather have Queen Cersei rather than Prime Minister Gove 😬

[@MisterDusterix]

Yes.

[@RandyRobbo]

Boris has always been a bumbling fool of a politician. But the man is incredibly intelligent and before the referendum he was propbably the only Tory politician who was actually liked by the majority of the public. He's playing the long game, he won't throw his name into the hat until he gets his popularity back when the effects of Brexit settle down.

[@astrologylibrary]

Cunning and strategic are words that spring to mind more than intelligent to me! I'm sure he was a whizz kid at academic examinations, but political intelligence requires much more than raw brain processing power.

[@OldUKAds]

He wins over people in the same way Farrage. Does. They are millionaires sucking off the state in multiple jobs - but because they drink or bumble the public goes "They're just like me!"

[@cbennetts2746]

this isnt game of thrones this is house of cards dude

[@Genechanger]

It is blatantly obvious what Boris' master plan was. To hell with the country, he saw Brexit as a way of becoming Prime minister. Nothing more, nothing less. He didn't expect to win. He thought they would lose, but only by a narrow margin, thus allowing him to maintain some credibility. He had calculated that, in the aftermath, for giving Cameron his support to unite the heavily divided party, he would be rewarded by being given a big ministerial position, which he figured would allow him to slip into the Premiership when Cameron resigned in a couple of years time., as he had long stated he planned to do. Of course when they won, no-one was more surprised than Boris and when Cameron resigned immediately, Boris' plan went belly up as he was not prepared to fix the mess he had created and he had no idea how to deal with that situation, so, true to character, he did a runner.

[@holtg007]

BoJo has never been taken seriously

[@raptokvortex]

In the Conservative party, if you run and lose your reputation is tarnished.

[@tonybennett4159]

Boris has always been flimflam. As mayor of London, he rode on the success of the Olympics, an event in which he had no part in the planning. His Boris bikes scheme was already in place in Paris and was in the process of investigation when he arrived. The hard graft in London was done by his deputy while Boris swanned off on photo opportunities, making sure his hair was mussed in an appropriately rakish manner. Meanwhile, he continued to work as a journalist and an author. Under his watch, huge amounts of property were snapped up by foreign investors so that prices were pushed up. The idea of building "affordable" homes was a laugh. Affordable to two working well paid professionals, not to nurses or even teachers. One fellow conservative complained that Boris often used to turn up at London County Hall meetings ill prepared. It is no surprise then, that he stepped aside. He suddenly realised that the job of PM is not playtime, it requires hard slog and commitment, and finds out the incompetent very quickly. All of his buffoonish image could not save him from being found out as a fraud. Maybe when somebody else has put in the hard yards and the country has stabilised, he might try his arm again.

[@MrRacinger322]

House Cameron - Shitstorms are coming! House Corbyn - We do not bow! House May - No family, only Duty, barely Honor! (I assume "Unplowed, unscented and token" will be seen as sexist?) House Gove - Going wrong! House Johnson - As high as a pothead! House Farage - Our Words are Wind! House Sturgeon - The North remembers! House Murdoch - Shut up and eat your cookie!

[@KricketShh]

Brexit referendum is not binding; my guess is UK won't leave. Who ever invokes Article 50 will feel the wrath of broken trade agreements, recession, Scotland, Ireland and Gibraltar.

[@JesperoTV]

Cenk, is someone suffering from a little Game of Thrones withdrawal there, buddy?

[@azizbassman]

Boris is a very cunning intelligent man I think he has something up his sleeve he'll be back.

[@DominikJuric]

They won't leave as long as they don't find a government that is willing to do that.

[@helenamoniqueclarke8135]

Before Tony Blair ran for office, he flew to meet and ask approval of Murdoch. That is how powerful Rupert Murdoch is.

[@caliandris]

He took a look at what the next few months would be like as PM and decided he liked being an MP and having his own life. he's also been propped up for years by the Conservatives on the London Assembly helping him to not screw up London.

[@avocado4662]

Excellent Analysis!

[@Warpmek]

There was a great post that a user on a forum I frequent found, and it's one of the most accurate things I have seen. Let me quote it for you "If Boris Johnson looked downbeat yesterday, that is because he realises that he has lost. Perhaps many Brexiters do not realise it yet, but they have actually lost, and it is all down to one man: David Cameron. With one fell swoop yesterday at 9:15 am, Cameron effectively annulled the referendum result, and simultaneously destroyed the political careers of Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and leading Brexiters who cost him so much anguish, not to mention his premiership How? Throughout the campaign, Cameron had repeatedly said that a vote for leave would lead to triggering Article 50 straight away. Whether implicitly or explicitly, the image was clear: he would be giving that notice under Article 50 the morning after a vote to leave. Whether that was scaremongering or not is a bit moot now but, in the midst of the sentimental nautical references of his speech yesterday, he quietly abandoned that position and handed the responsibility over to his successor. And as the day wore on, the enormity of that step started to sink in: the markets, Sterling, Scotland, the Irish border, the Gibraltar border, the frontier at Calais, the need to continue compliance with all EU regulations for a free market, re-issuing passports, Brits abroad, EU citizens in Britain, the mountain of legislation to be torn up and rewritten ... the list grew and grew. The referendum result is not binding. It is advisory. Parliament is not bound to commit itself in that same direction.The Conservative party election that Cameron triggered will now have one question looming over it: will you, if elected as party leader, trigger the notice under Article 50? Who will want to have the responsibility of all those ramifications and consequences on his/her head and shoulders? Boris Johnson knew this yesterday, when he emerged subdued from his home and was even more subdued at the press conference. He has been out-manoeuvred and check-mated. If he runs for leadership of the party, and then fails to follow through on triggering Article 50, then he is finished. If he does not run and effectively abandons the field, then he is finished. If he runs, wins and pulls the UK out of the EU, then it will all be over - Scotland will break away, there will be upheaval in Ireland, a recession ... broken trade agreements. Then he is also finished. Boris Johnson knows all of this. When he acts like the dumb blond it is just that: an act. The Brexit leaders now have a result that they cannot use. For them, leadership of the Tory party has become a poison chalice. When Boris Johnson said there was no need to trigger Article 50 straight away, what he really meant to say was "never". When Michael Gove went on and on about "informal negotiations" ... why? why not the formal ones straight away? ... he also meant not triggering the formal departure. They both know what a formal demarche would mean: an irreversible step that neither of them is prepared to take. All that remains is for someone to have the guts to stand up and say that Brexit is unachievable in reality without an enormous amount of pain and destruction, that cannot be borne. And David Cameron has put the onus of making that statement on the heads of the people who led the Brexit campaign."

[@jokerofMI6]

Michael Gove was the chief whip, so more like House of Cards