The only 7 reactions you need to the size of Boris Johnson’s briefs
A number of people who have worked with or under Boris Johnson in his various jobs have shared stories of his reputation for not bothering to do the required reading.
He clearly hadn’t studied the brief on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe when he damaged her defence by claiming she had gone to Iran to teach journalism, when she was actually there to visit family.
According to an article in the Sunday Times, he hasn’t upped his game since becoming Prime Minister, leading aides to take drastic steps.
Boris Johnson’s aides have been ordered to send him shorter memos, limiting papers to just two sides of A4. Civil servants have also been told to cut the number of documents put into the prime minister’s red box to “make sure that he reads them” https://t.co/TULRKIEzm2
— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) February 23, 2020
There were serious echoes of the situation in the White House, where Trump’s aides have been reported as taking similar steps to dumb down briefings for the President.
These reactions said it all.
1.
▪️Won’t read briefs over 2 pages
▪️Spent a week hiding at Chevening like it’s some stately home-sized fridge instead of visiting flood-hit areas
▪️Hired a racist
Congrats, everyone. We have our very own Donald Trump. https://t.co/1Q0JVREjlf
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) February 23, 2020
2.
Briefings for dummies 👇 https://t.co/LAAP7KNcAD
— Liz Webster 🔶🏴🇬🇧🇪🇺 FBPE (@abcpoppins) February 23, 2020
3.
How long before he hits the Fanta-spray tan? https://t.co/XGlGrvjUV1
— Malcolm Tucker Esq 🕷 (@Tucker5law) February 23, 2020
4.
Johnson is lazy and didn't bother reading briefs when Foreign Secretary so unlikely to start now. https://t.co/EJG5rlWBKx
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 23, 2020
5.
We're f*cked aren't we? https://t.co/pYQHKluKm8
— Hannah O'Hanrahahanrahan (@buntyhoven) February 23, 2020
6.
Boris Johnson does know it’s an actual job in which you have to do actual work and make an actual difference doesn’t he.. https://t.co/OGUkNrB7y1
— Deborah Meaden (@DeborahMeaden) February 23, 2020
7.
I wasn't aware that there had been any flooding. The briefing paper on it was over two pages long, contained words with more than one syllable and had no pictures, so I didn't read it.
I have requested pop-up versions only in future. #ridge #marr pic.twitter.com/PzyPUzSNe6— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) February 23, 2020
Labour MP, Ian Murray, had a suggestion for a way to make things really Johnson-friendly.
Maybe they should use pictures instead. https://t.co/jASjmqlE47
— Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) February 23, 2020
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Source Sunday Times Image Hibrow
