Johnson accused of ‘abusing’ police with Trumpian political stunt in Yorkshire


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On 5 September, Boris Johnson launched a Trumpian political stunt in West Yorkshire. And critics accused him of ‘abusing’ the position of the police in the process.

“Abuse of power”

About 35 student officers stood in lines behind Johnson as he gave a speech at West Yorkshire Police’s operations and training complex in Wakefield. The officers were standing behind his lectern, in front of an old-style police box, for at least 20 minutes before the speech began.

But the troubled PM faced criticism for using student officers as a backdrop for his political speech. Wakefield MP Mary Creagh, for example, said she was “very unhappy” about Johnson using the cadets as “wallpaper for [his] party political stunt”. And she wasn’t the only one with something to say:

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The BBC‘s North America editor Jon Sopel, meanwhile, suggested that Johnson’s speech had taken inspiration from Donald Trump:

And comedian David Schneider joked:

“You should be in Brussels negotiating!”

As the Guardian‘s Josh Halliday reported, Wakefield “was heavily pro-leave”, but Johnson’s visit inspired little excitement:

Like a touring pantomime villain, Boris Johnson swept into Wakefield to a chorus of jeers.

As one local person said, “he has got all this money but he never speaks to normal folk”.

Another person, meanwhile, interrupted Johnson’s campaigning in West Yorkshire by shouting:

You should be in Brussels negotiating!

And the reception in general to the PM’s visit was far from welcoming:

Boris Johnson has been so bad at his job so far that he seems to have started his general election campaign already. But in doing so, he’s simply exposing how much he admires authoritarian Trumpian tactics, and just how unpopular he is around the country.

Britain deserves so much better.

Featured image and additional reporting via Press Association

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  • Show Comments

    1. I agree about Boris emulating Trump. He aspires socially to the game of gobal politics most likely learned at Eaton A social game first on his mind, and with the concerns of England who he represents at the moment a very distant second, He wrote the book “the Dream Of Rome” which is telling.
      So how can the world’s democracies present a diverse discusion about the human induced problems we have created for the planet with a social totalitarian mind set from the 18th century?
      Even to the extent of undermining the democratic voice of people using the social cunning of smear campaigns, lies to fool the less astute among us with the antisemitic smear against Jeremy Corbyn.
      I think this global social gang is intent on snuffing out the light of a democratic will by the people to having a say about a future they are willing to choose.
      A common sense recognition we have humanly induced problems for this very rare living planet that needs addressing.
      This social only totalitarian desire doesn’t welcome a diverse discussion on how to approach it as one would find in the ideal parlimentary scene, This social scene he apsires to really doesn’t know how to actually do anything. The Collusal Brexit Failure is telling.
      He frustrates this parlimentary desire in people to chose a different future.
      Don’t think England is alone in being subjected to this global social game.
      Its a curious thing to observe, and has cosmic implications.
      That’s my alone comment, unvetted by anyone.

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