Another headache for British Prime Minister Teresa May at the Conservative’s annual conference, and it is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson again providing it.
British foreign secretary in hot water again after Libya comment
The favourite of the party faithful has given a typical barnstorming conference performance this week. Now some typically unguarded comments about Libya have outraged many.
Boris Johnson’s speech is called “Let The Lion Roar”. #CPC17 #Boris pic.twitter.com/N2uCHvYcon— Karl Minns (@karlminns) October 3, 2017
“They’ve got a brilliant vision to turn Sirte into the next – with the help of the municipality of Sirte, to turn it into the next Dubai. The only thing they’ve got to do is clear the dead bodies away, and then they’ll be there,”
he said at a side meeting in Manchester. The comment produced laughter at the event, but a storm of criticism once it was made public. Several of his fellow Tory ministers and MPs also voiced disapproval.
German press have picked up, reported & horrified by BorisJohnson ‘making jokes’ about the dead in Libya. (UK’s chief diplomat, remember.) pic.twitter.com/vpQVIyizUW— Nina Schick (NinaDSchick) October 4, 2017
He has been unavailable for comment ever since amid renewed calls for his resignation, and some observers believe this latest gaffe may, if not cost him his job, at least see him put his leadership ambitions on hold.
Does he not understand the tastelessness of what he says? – Matthew Parris reacts to BorisJohnson’s comments on Libya pic.twitter.com/Lq7DwUQ3Dk— BBC Newsnight (BBCNewsnight) October 4, 2017
Teresa May has seen several of her recent public statements, on Brexit for example, contradicted or spun by Johnson but in public at least the pair maintain close-ranked unity, and conference is no place for
disagreement among the Conservative leadership.
German press have picked up, reported & horrified by BorisJohnson ‘making jokes’ about the dead in Libya. (UK’s chief diplomat, remember.) pic.twitter.com/vpQVIyizUW— Nina Schick (NinaDSchick) October 4, 2017