Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been ‘fired’ from his spot on Channel 4’s US election night coverage – because he refused to stop “banging on about his book”.
Johnson, a pal of Donald Trump, was sensationally let go live on air after featuring on the election show throughout the night. The Brexiteer-in-Chief ran into a series of skirmishes throughout the night as he weighed in on events across the States.
Viewers were then shocked to discovered that he had been let go, after he failed to reappear after a commercial break. Channel 4 presenter Krishan Guru-Murthy revealed he had been “fired for banging on about his book.”
Mr Johnson, furiously hit back at journalist Emily Maitlis in a fiery debate. Amidst discussions of his links with the former US president, he lambasted her line of inquiry as “sloppy” and “dangerous,” The Mirror reports.
Interpreting Johnson’s body language, Maitlis remarked: “Mr Johnson you’re kind of shaking your head, but this is coming from a man you’ve described as a friend.”
Johnson hastily refuted: “No not at all, I wasn’t shaking my head at all,” leading Emily to readjust her comment, indicating his reaction could be seen as one of dismay and support, concurrently alluding to Johnson’s previous advisory position to Trump on global affairs.
Expressing his concern for Stormy, Johnson declared: “Let me first say that I think anyone watching this will have immense sympathy for Stormy.”
“Everything that you feel and have been going through. Nobody should be threatened or feel threatened as part of the democratic process.”
Johnson attempted to deflect, stating: “And I’m afraid I don’t know the ins and outs of much of what’s happened. What I can say, the area in which I can speak with authority is about the foreign policy relationship.”
However, Emily and Stormy pressed him further, with Emily saying: “We’re gonna put foreign policy aside and talk about character. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t know Stormy Daniels story because it’s been absolutely public for years.”
Stormy added: “She’s described the character of the man and how his fans react to somebody like her.”
Boris maintained his stance, saying: “And I understand that, but you see the job in the UK of the Prime Minister is to have a good close relationship, friendship with whoever is in the White House and it has to be operational and it did work.”
Stormy then asked Boris if he would be comfortable with the women in his life being alone with Mr Trump, questioning: “So if you’re the Prime Minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement as people do with Donald Trump whether you’re right or wrong. Would you have any fear for the ladies in your life? How do you feel about doxxing? ” Boris replied: “Nothing like that came up.”
Stormy persisted, asking: “You wouldn’t be worried that that would happen to your daughters or sisters? ” Boris Johnson defended his interactions with the former US President, stating: “When you’re talking to the US President, the relationship you have as the Prime Minister, is one of great formality and importance and of course you develop a friendship but actually and I can say this with all sincerity, in my time with him I never was treated with anything other than complete courteous and friendliness. Now you had a very different experience but I can only talk about my experience.”
However, his stance was challenged by Emily Maitlis who drew parallels between Johnson’s behaviour as Prime Minister and Trump’s conduct, blasting, “His disregard for institutions, his disregard for the rule of law, his denialism, which I think was mirrored in your response to the privileges committee, your response to the Parliamentary standards committee, your proroguing of Parliament, this is all Trump-like behaviour.”
Boris let out a dismissive laugh and countered with a self-assured plug for his memoir, “Well there I obviously disagree profoundly as I detail in the book Unleashed,” but Maitlis didn’t bite, pushing further on the Trump comparison. Boris labelled her connection as “sloppy” and “dangerous”, asserting firmly, “Well no because I don’t accept your analogy at all and I think it’s very sloppy and dangerous to make analogies between the US and the UK in that kind of way.”
Channel 4’s lead presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 54, stepped in, asking Boris Johnson: “You didn’t model yourself on him at all? ” Dodging the question, Boris replied: “And I think people compare Brexit with the advent of Donald Trump. Brexit was actually supported by people across the political spectrum.”
Emily Maitlis, 54, challenged: “You’re not answering the question. Just go back to the question.”
Boris insisted, “I’m answering the question directly. I believe in my administration we had complete respect for institutions. We had respect for the decision of the British people to leave the European Union. And unlike many people in the UK establishment who wanted to thwart that, we were determined to go ahead and deliver it. As we promised.”
Boris Johnson said, “If you read Unleashed, you’ll see I admitted we made a mistake, took the wrong approach, and then corrected it,” in response to criticism. “But when it comes to partygate or the handling of the Covid pandemic, I believe the UK government did an exceptional job.”
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