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Boris Johnson yesterday struggled to answer basic questions about the Queen's Speech during a radio interview with Eddie Mair on BBC Radio 4.
When asked what Theresa May's Queen's Speech would do to tackle racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, Johnson said (to the background noise of shuffling papers):
Well there are measures, I believe in the bill on the courts which I think is supposed to address some of those issues.
I think one thing in particular that we are looking at is measures to ... Hang on a second ... There are all sorts of measures that we want to take to ensure that we do not discriminate against everybody.
He was then asked a question about mental health care.
Johnson attempted to return to the previous question, at which point Mair interjected:
It’s not a Two Ronnies sketch. You can’t answer the question before last.
He was later asked what the point of the Prime Minister was, when she could not deliver on so many of her manifesto pledges.
He replied:
The point of the Prime Minister is to lead the country, to give a ...er... lead on these key issues ...and to take this Queen's Speech through.
And she will, and she will do a great job.
He also, hypocritically, called for an end to personal attacks in politics.
Not the same Boris Johnson who, less than two months ago, called Jeremy Corbyn a "mutton-headed mugwump"? https://t.co/4f4hsJH10o— Callum May (@Callum May) 1498062495
His performance was quickly condemned as poor.
THE worst interview by a politician EVER. I expect @BBCNews & @itvnews will cover it & it'll be in every newspaper 🤔 https://t.co/k2id2nk8DR— John Prescott (@John Prescott) 1498073422
Awful outing for the Foreign sec - Johnson struggles in interview - BBC News https://t.co/uYqZCdRs85— Laura Kuenssberg (@Laura Kuenssberg) 1498079642
People also compared his interview performance to a number of interviews given by the Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott during this year's election campaign. Ms Abbott gave a number of interviews which were described by many as appalling - she was later forced to step down from her role citing ill health.
Now that everyone has watched that car crash Boris Johnson interview, can we talk about the bigotry of expectations?— Sunny Singh (@Sunny Singh) 1498113974
'Why isn't he abused like Diane Abbott?' Labour voters blast media bias after Boris Johnson interview nightmare… https://t.co/eZ0ESghmRw— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) 1498124274
This is pretty damn embarrassing but I guarantee he won't have the opprobrium heaped on him that @HackneyAbbott rec… https://t.co/P24F5JdCZg— ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) 1498083473
wonder if the ppl who called for diane abbott's head after her brain freeze will stay quiet on bojo https://t.co/wI1hicfJaw— Sirin Kale (@Sirin Kale) 1498124185
Boris Johnson flounders on questions about the Queen's Speech. Will he face the same wrath as Diane Abbott did not long ago? 🤔— Charlene White (@Charlene White) 1498114128
Some people, like former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, criticised the BBC for not running the clip on news programmes (incorrectly).
So the @BBCNews at Ten decided not to run this clip. But the BBC ran Corbyn's Women's Hour footage & Diane Abbott'… https://t.co/eHJFIAQj0b— John Prescott (@John Prescott) 1498086557
The clip ran on Newsnight, and the original interview itself took place on Radio Four with Eddie Mair.
The interview was also subject of a number of BBC articles online:
It's popular to bash the BBC these days as partisan (in both directions, without a hint of irony) but the quotes literally went out on Radio Four.
Diane Abbott increased her vote by 12.2 per cent at the election, enjoying a landslide.
Boris Johnson increased his share of the vote but his majority narrowed by 13 per cent.
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