Boris Johnson ‘despises privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite’ Keir Starmer
This government has all but cornered the market in extreme lack of self-awareness.
Recent examples include Jacob ‘Brexit Opportunities’ Rees-Mogg describing implementing planned Brexit checks as an act of self-harm, Matt Hancock saying Boris Johnson’s Covid rule-breaking wasn’t a reason to resign, and Nadine Dorries – well, just being Nadine Dorries.
If the leader sets the culture, this reported comment from Boris Johnson on the topic of his political opposite number might explain a lot.
Sunday Times claims Boris Johnson personally "despises" his opposite number. An ally says: "He genuinely does not like Keir. He sees this man as part of a privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite uncomfortable with the raw instincts of the vast majority of British people."
— James Heale (@JAHeale) May 8, 2022
The reactions were exactly as you’d expect.
1.
'Privileged' – Boris is the privately-educated son of wealthy parents
'Metropolitan' – Boris has lived most of his life in the wealthier parts of London
'Narrow-minded' – "Letterboxes, piccanniny smiles, tank-topped bumboys, etc"
'Elite' – he's the actual PM
It's pure projection https://t.co/LM0eRdpIhb— Nick Pettigrew🇺🇦 (@Nick_Pettigrew) May 8, 2022
2.
I have MANY problems with his leadership but: Starmer isn't from money. He was very smart and became a QC from a background not that different from mine (he's from just up the road).
Johnson's privilege FAR outweigh's Starmer's is the point, he's just projecting. https://t.co/eLhdJY37f7
— Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) May 8, 2022
3.
Boris Johnson… product of extreme privilege… Eton… Oxford..Bullingdon.. and a gilded life in a tiny closeted world of wealth and power thinks you're all stupid enough to fall for this https://t.co/MRUzsLhw3l
— Otto English (@Otto_English) May 8, 2022
4.
The guy that belonged to a club that burned money in front of the homeless thinks somebody else is…
*checks notes*
…'part of a privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite' https://t.co/GugLW7iH6q— Malcolm V Tucker 🏴☠️🇺🇦 (@Tucker5law) May 8, 2022
5.
Starmer's dad was a toolmaker, his mom was a nurse. Passed his 11+, got into a state funded grammar school, got a first class law degree at Leeds University, then a Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford
Johnson went to Eton and smashed up restaurants for fun while at Oxford
— Russell England 😷💉💙🇪🇺🧳🌻🇺🇦 (@RussellEngland) May 8, 2022
6.
* Looks at Boris Johnson‘s background – looks at the tweet – looks at Boris Johnson‘s CV again – scratches his head * https://t.co/LjvKvzdX8A
— Holger Hestermeyer (@hhesterm) May 8, 2022
7.
I genuinely can't process accusations of elite metropolitanism from the endlessly classics quoting ex-Brussels columnist former Mayor of London, who a week ago was described as "too skilled an Oxford Debater" for Angela Rayner to take on without flashing her privates. https://t.co/zSDPg7vmCw
— Dmitry Grozoubinski (@DmitryOpines) May 8, 2022
8.
Boris Johnson “despises” Kier Starmer and thinks he “is part of a privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite”. Good to know what makes one worthy of being despised. pic.twitter.com/L6ssh6jWTT
— Count Binface (@CountBinface) May 8, 2022
9.
Johnson – Man of the people? pic.twitter.com/tN1UF0BWDV
— Jim Whitehouse…………………………🇺🇦🌲 (@NibblerRat) May 8, 2022
10.
Alexa, show me the definition of 'hypocrisy' https://t.co/vWko7zqnDW
— badly-drawn bee (@soapachu) May 8, 2022
11.
The Times saying Johnson thinks Starmer is "part of a privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite." What's so amazing is this is a perfect description of the Eton-educated, New York-born, Tory-bubble inhabiting, two-time London mayor Boris Johnson himself.
— Nick Tyrone (@NicholasTyrone) May 8, 2022
12.
The Sunday Times will be blown away when it discovers that the Prime Minister is part of a privileged, metropolitan, narrow-minded elite uncomfortable with the raw instincts of the vast majority of British people. https://t.co/ZhA4GLNNkv
— Matthias Eberl 🇺🇦🕊️ (@eberlmat) May 8, 2022
Marie Le Conte summed it up.
I just think it's nice that words don't mean anything anymore https://t.co/m6y70QklZT
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) May 8, 2022
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Source James Heale Image Screengrab, Screengrab