Eileen Kersey writing out of Yorkshire, England

Boris Johnson is all smoke and mirrors

29/9/2019

British politics is full of bluster, half truths, propaganda and smoke and mirrors right now. Maybe it always is.

But distraction politics often mean that the electorate becomes almost obsessed about a single issue, such as Brexit, giving those in power a free rein to hide, bury and simply ignore many real issues that could affect us all.

So now it seems is a good time to re-share our brief history of that well-used phrase, it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Have you heard the expression, "it's all smoke and mirrors?"; do you know what it means and its history?

No? Well let's see if we can address that, as it could be a phrase that you hear and see a lot these days -- after all so much that is currently going on around the world is "All smoke and Mirrors"

A strict definition of the phrase is "Trickery or deception, often in a political context"

The phrase, however, has its origins in magic; a conjurer on the stage attempting to fool the audience into believing his "trick" would use smoke and mirrors. This would deceive the eye of the beholder and enable the magician to fool the audience, perhaps a bit like all politicians around the word do at times.

The "trick" would truly appear to be 'magic' when in truth it was simply a slight of hand manoeuvre.

In more recent times this phrase has been used to describe politics and, as it is so often called these days, political spin, plus conflicts and war. Whilst this is now common practise it does make it hard to know just what and who to believe.

Reading a good cross section of reports can help but that is time consuming. Even then views may be subjective rather than objective.

Into the pot we also need to add the fact that these days foreign agents often infiltrate countries and organisations in order to manipulate what is happening; more smoke and mirrors. The U.K. is not a stranger to this. British political leaders these days employ spin doctors to weave a web of whatever, which some would call a web of deceit.

Consider people like Boris Johnson’s right-hand man of the moment Dominic Cummings.

A clear, honest manifesto would be more appropriate and appreciated by the electorate but would it prove as politically useful?

American journalist Jimmy Breslin is generally attributed with the modern usage of the phrase all smoke and mirrors. In his "Notes from Impeachment Summer" in 1975 he wrote, "All political power is primarily an illusion... Mirrors and blue smoke, beautiful blue smoke rolling over the surface of highly polished mirrors... If somebody tells you how to look, there can be seen in the smoke great, magnificent shapes, castles and kingdoms, and maybe they can be yours." "The ability to create the illusion of power, to use mirrors and blue smoke, is one found in unusual people." Since then the phrase has been adopted by many."

As the Conservative Party 2019 kicks off in Manchester watch out for the smoke and mirrors.

It may be PM and Tory Party leader Boris Johnson feeding into the minds of Brexiteers, making vague promises re the NHS, promising that sometime in the future money will be available in communities or whether the relationship between Johnson and American ex-model and entrepreneurs Jennifer Arcuri was more than he claims but rest assured smoke and mirrors will be heavily involved.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/24/boris-johnson-liar-supreme-court-verdict-parliament-prorogation
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-jennifer-arcuri-model-relationship-business-mayor-a9116156.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jennifer-arcuri-told-friends-of-affair-with-boris-johnson-h8m7wlpg2#hby

The illusion is done by smoke and mirrors

American ex-model and entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri with Boris Johnson

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Boris Johnson West Bank cancellations

11/11/2015

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Op-Ed: Blonde Bombshell and London’s Tory mayor Boris Johnson has once again put his foot where his mouth should be.

Johnson has cut short a trade visit to the West Bank after saying that advocates of a trade ban against Israel were a "bunch of corduroy-jacketed lefty academics who have no real standing in the matter and are unlikely to be influential on Britain.” He added "those who endorsed it were "foolish" and in a "very small minority".

Social media reacted quickly. The majority of his meetings with Palestinian representatives and individuals were cancelled.

He had become too big a security risk.

According to Wikipedia the BDS Movement was formed in 2005. It is described as follows:

"The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS Movement) is a global anti-Israel campaign attempting to increase economic and political pressure on Israel to comply with the stated goals of the movement: the end of Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian land, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respect for the right of return of Palestinian refugees."

A good place to start would be removing the wall that holds the people of the West Bank prisoners in their own country.

Johnson's criticism of the BDS movement and others supporting a trade ban with Israel illustrate a complete lack of empathy or understanding of the many issues.

Perhaps Johnson's drug experimentation as a young man has caught up with him and resulted in an addled brain? In 2007 the Guardian published drug confessions of a series of high profile politicians from the U.K. and beyond and this is what they wrote about Johnson:

Boris Johnson, the Conservative MP for Henley, said: "I tried it [cocaine] at university and I remember it vividly. It achieved no pharmacological, psychotropic or any other effect on me whatsoever." He added that he had smoked "quite a few spliffs" before he went to university. He said: "It was jolly nice. But apparently it is very different these days. Much stronger. I've become very illiberal about it. I don't want my kids to take drugs."

Months later Johnson was spilling the beans on his teenage drug use to the Mail Online.

Johnson came onto the political scene as something of a joke and morphed into a semi-popular entertainer especially with younger people. His appearance on comedy political quiz show "Have I Got News for You" put him firmly in the public eye and a few years on he is a politician that is rumoured to be going places.

Touted by some Conservatives as the next leader of the party Johnson has a series of gaffes already under his belt.

His buffoonery of course could be part of a winning act?

Johnson will not care about offending people he perceives as a bunch of lefties - if there is such a group he would never receive their vote. However are all right-wing people in the U.K. pro-Israel? One would think not.

It is not about being anti-Semitic but about being pro the people of Gaza and Palestine; not wanting a small country pushed into oblivion; not wanting that tiny country to continue as an outdoor concentration camp.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson a.k.a. Boris Johnson like David Cameron and other 'chummies' attended Eton; they are part of a 'set'; a group of people that at one time had British politics sewn up and all to their advantage.

"Boris being Boris" is a statement that has been perhaps overused to let this foolish man off the hook in the past. It is way past the time he grew up and shut up.

Johnson should be careful who he offends; there could be actual or potential Tory voters in that group he describes and dismisses as nobodies and a "bunch of corduroy-jacketed lefty academics."

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Garden Bridge London decision makers petition response

9/11/2015

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Save the South Bank from the private Garden Bridge development

Part one of this report offers an opinion piece regarding the proposed Garden Bridge London. This report, part two, features the "Decision Maker['s] Response.

Boris Johnson

Nov 9, 2015 — Dear Petitioner

Thank you for the petition submitted on the change.org website about the Garden Bridge.

London’s population is growing at an unprecedented rate and by 2030 we will be a city of 10 million people. This means more people travelling to and from central London and one of the Mayor’s priorities is to encourage as many trips as possible to be made on foot and by cycle. Central London is relatively compact and we have the opportunity to make this one of the greatest cities for walking and cycling in the world. A new bridge in this location will help to achieve this aim and also support the capital to become a healthier and more environmentally friendly city. To reinforce this, the walking time from Waterloo station to Fleet Street will be reduced significantly, making this an attractive proposition for people travelling to work, rather than using the bus or tube.

The economic benefits of the bridge are massively significant. The bridge is expected to generate £12.9m per annum in additional business revenues due to increased footfalls in the surrounding areas, and £2.5m in additional tourism revenue. The bridge will also help to maximise the potential of the Waterloo area, which is earmarked for 35,000-45,000 new jobs and 1,900 homes over the next 15-20 years, helping to alleviate London’s housing shortage. Direct employment benefits will include 250 construction jobs and 20 operational jobs, as well as a number of local apprenticeships and a volunteering programme to provide local people with an opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience in horticulture.

The bridge will be a new green space for London and will contain over 2,300m2 of greenery including 270 new trees, 2,000 shrubs, hedging plants, climbers, over 22,000 hardy perennials, ferns, grasses, and 64,000 bulbs. The garden has been designed by Mr Dan Pearson, an award-winning landscape designer and Honorary Fellow of Royal Institute of British Architects, who has worked on the Tokachi Millennium Forest and Maggie’s Cancer Centre London.

Therefore, the Mayor has asked Transport for London (TfL) to contribute £30m to the proposed project on the basis that this contribution will help leverage a large amount of other funding sources to deliver the scheme. The Government has matched this contribution with £30m.

The remaining funds are being raised by the Garden Bridge Trust, which is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge, through private donations. These donations exceed the public funding package and the Trust’s fundraising programme is ongoing.

There are other locations where further crossings over the Thames would be of great benefit which is why the Mayor and TfL are keen to see the delivery of many more crossings. As announced this summer, TfL, alongside local businesses, has provided funding to Sustrans to examine the feasibility of a pedestrian and cycle bridge between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf with all parties awaiting the outcome of that study. TfL is also progressing with the Silvertown Tunnel, crossings at both Gallions Reach and Belvedere and following progress with the design competition run by the London Borough of Wandsworth for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge between Nine Elms and Pimlico with keen interest.

Yours sincerely

Public Liaison Officer
Greater London Authority

[The following links provide further reading and information on the Garden Bridge:
Thames Central Open Spaces
Architect's Journal
The Ecologist
A Folly for London]

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Theresa May pours cold water on Boris Johnson water cannon plan

16/7/2015

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May puts her foot down

In July 2014 as the summer temperatures began to soar and a series of strikes were about to get underway Mayor of London Boris Johnson bought three 25-year-old German water cannon and the idea behind the purchase was not to cool Londoners down in a heatwave.

We asked "Will the UK coalition government use water cannon against strikers" but in the end the water cannon were simply put on a back-burner for use at a future date and time.

This week Home Secretary Theresa May poured cold water on any plans Johnson had to deploy the water cannon. Wednesday the Guardian reported "May, has rejected an attempt by Boris Johnson to deploy water cannon on the streets of London and refused to authorise their use by any police force in England and Wales."

Water cannon can be dangerous at the best of times but these three old German cannon have at least 67 faults which will have to be fixed before May could even consider allowing their use.

But why is Boris keen to get the cannon active?

Is it to keep we the little people in our place or does he expect civil disobedience in the near future or could it be to justify the £218,205 spent on buying and refurbishing the three water cannon from the German federal police?

Summer 2015 may yet prove volatile following the Tory election victory in May and with a series of strikes planned.

Protests in summer have obvious advantages to strikers but when workers feel at a loss how to make real and positive change they will take industrial action be it winter or summer.

Salaries, working conditions and pensions are just a few things under attack - all important issues though.

London's bumbling Tory mayor Boris Johnson said in 2014 he planned to use water cannon in the city of London if and when the need arises. As the Daily Mail so eloquently put it "Boris Johnson has bought a job-lot of three aged German water cannon for what he says is a knockdown price. Presumably the word 'Polizei' on each of these vehicles will have to be painted out. The London mayor told a radio interviewer yesterday [June 29] that he was prepared to be blasted by one of the cannon to prove they are safe. I do hope he's not being serious. He could be badly injured."

This writer hoped that last bit was tongue in cheek and that Boris would go up against the water cannon and sustain injuries. If that happened it would be lesson learned for Johnson.

The Daily Mail reporter continues by doubting that even enemies of Boris would like to see him ravaged by water cannon but why not? If he thinks they are suitable to use against strikers and British protesters let him test the equipment out at full throttle.

In 2014 the Mail quoted a man seriously injured by water cannon. "Dietrich Wagner, a 69-year-old retired German engineer, was hit in the face four years ago at a protest against the redevelopment of Stuttgart's main railway station. His eyelids were torn and some of the bones around his eyes fractured, causing his eyeballs to fall out of their sockets. He's now blind."

Still think water cannons are ok to use against British citizens Mr Johnson?

If he does it proves one or two things. Johnson is as stupid as he seems or he does not care on jot about those he represents, as after all he will represent some of those preparing to strike in the UK or stage protests.

To Britain's shame water cannon were deployed in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Their use may have restored a semblance of peace but will have injured and alienated many.

Political pundits believe that Boris played to the hard core Tory supporters when he purchased the water cannon in 2014, also casting one eye to any future leadership battle in the Conservative party.

His main opponent for the job of party leader may be Home Secretary Theresa May so he wants to look the tough guy; perhaps May has her own reasons for stepping on Boris's toes this week.

David Cameron supported the purchase of the water cannons but in June 2014 Theresa May refused to be rushed on the decision. Alpha male Johnson made a pre-emptive strike and ordered the goods without her approval.

The coalition government looked set to authorise the use of the water cannon when 'needed' in the UK but by and large police commissioners distanced themselves and opposed the plan.

That said in January 2014 the Guardian reported "Chief constables are to press the home secretary, Theresa May, to authorise the use of water cannon by any police force across England and Wales to deal with anticipated street protests."

In the short-term the issue would water cannon be used against British protesters and strikers is resolved. However in the long term that could change. Johnson said this week police will continue to train on the water cannon and at some point in the future application for a licence to deploy the cannon can be sought again.

Petition
38 Degrees ran a petition which began -
Dear Theresa May, The Association of Chief Police Officers want to introduce the use of water cannon on mainland UK to disperse [austerity] protests. I believe you should deny this request so as to maintain the public's right to peaceful protest.

Follow this link to the petition now and it says SUCCESS and was closed Wednesday

Related - London Mayor Boris being sued over ban of anti gay advert
Boris Johnson fails IQ test after slamming the poor

Sources:
January Guardian
Guardian
Daily Mail

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Boris Johnson is all smoke and mirrors

Boris Johnson West Bank cancellations

Garden Bridge London decision makers petition response

Theresa May pours cold water on Boris Johnson water cannon plan

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