July 29, 2019 4.48 pm
This story is over 33 months old
Caroline Kenyon: Why I do not recognise Boris Johnson as my Prime Minster
Boris Johnson was declared Prime Minister of the United Kingdom last week. I do not recognise him as such. I do not respect the process by which he has claimed this high, privileged office and I regard him as a disgrace, a man who brings shame and dishonour upon our wonderful country. I shall happily…
Caroline Kenyon is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Lincoln
Boris Johnson was declared Prime Minister of the United Kingdom last week.
I do not recognise him as such.
I do not respect the process by which he has claimed this high, privileged office and I regard him as a disgrace, a man who brings shame and dishonour upon our wonderful country.
I shall happily explain why.
He was voted in by 92,000 votes from members of the Conservative Party. This cohort was largely male, white, over 60 – wholly unrepresentative of this country of 66 million people – but also, hypocritically, included members as young as 15 who are not permitted to vote in elections.
More people voted in the poll to name our new polar research boat (result: Boaty McBoatface) than in this apparent coronation.
He has now declared that we will leave, deal or no deal, no ifs or buts, on 31 October. A man with NO mandate from the country to be our premier, tells us that we will take the most high-risk path that any Western, civilised nation has ever taken, a path that was never on the ballot paper, never discussed in the Referendum debate (“easiest deal in history”, “settled over a cup of tea in an afternoon” “exact same benefits”).
This is nothing more or less than a coup.
But it is not just the man’s political intent with regard to Brexit that means I do not recognise him.
I will not recognise a man of such moral bankruptcy, in both his private life or his public life, as my leader.
This is a man for whom the consequences of his actions are irrelevant, the pain of others of no significance so long as he gains what he, Boris Johnson, craves.
Victims of his narcissistic cruelty run from Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, who was chained to bed in an Iranian psychiatric hospital last week, her prison sentence extended after Johnson’s lazy, incorrect statement as Foreign Secretary that she had been teaching journalism.
To Sir Kim Darroch, our former Ambassador to the United States who was forced to resign two weeks ago. His crime? Simply doing his job, as all ambassadors do, by reporting back to the UK the truth of the chaotic incompetence of the Trump administration, somehow mysteriously leaked to the press. But Johnson, so eager to ingratiate with Trump, refused to support our loyal representative and Darroch’s 40-year distinguished career ended overnight.
To his estranged wife and four children, deeply wounded by his repeated infidelities.
Add to the mix his blatant pandering to his paymasters. His leadership campaign attracted an astonishing £500,000 from hedge fund managers (who will make a killing when the pound collapses further on No Deal) and arms dealers, while his campaign managers included tobacco and sugar lobbyists.
It stinks to high heaven.
And that is before his cavalier attitude to public money. The disgusting scandal of the Garden Bridge which wasted £49 million of taxpayers’ money with absolutely nothing to show for it. That’s nothing to Johnson, who said of his £275,000 fee from the Daily Telegraph for his writing that it was “chickenfeed”.
But to a little business like mine, it would take an astonishing 2,000 years for us to generate that amount of tax. And for what? Nothing.
I do not and I will not recognise a man who has lied and cheated his way to the top. So, Mr Boris Johnson, as far as I am concerned, you are a squatter in Downing Street, with as little right to be there as if you had broken in with a camp bed and sleeping bag.
Not in my name.
Caroline is the parliamentary spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in Lincoln. She stood as they party's candidate in the 2017 general election in the city.
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A new mobile app has been created as a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford with a guide to everything you need to know about the Lincolnshire town, including where to shop and places to eat and drink.
What’s on in the town, where to park and more are also included in The Little App of Stamford app. It is free to download from Apple’s App Store and an android version is planned for release on June 1.
The app was created by Stamford Digital in association with #ShopStamford, a hashtag set up five years ago to promote and support the town’s retailers and traders.
The app includes everything you need to know about Stamford, including where to shop, places to eat and drink, what’s on in town, and more.
Tim Baker, who lives in Bourne with his wife and two children, is the founder and managing director of website and app firm Stamford Digital which launched in September 2018.
Tim said: “I picked up The Little Book of Stamford and instantly loved what it stood for and the design. It is a great tool to help visitors and shoppers navigate Stamford, as well as helping local businesses to raise their profile.
“I thought by making the book available digitally through this mobile app, I could help compliment what it aims to achieve.”
The app is a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford.
Sarah Sewell, who is the chairperson of #ShopStamford and owner of Energy Clothing, added: “The app is going to be a great add-on to the book and map we have already produced. It is yet another platform we can use to promote the wonderful independent businesses we have here in Stamford, so people can discover what we have to offer.”
Multi-million pound works to refurbish the now empty Lincoln Central Market have now begun.
The last traders left the building on April 15 (see their new locations here) ahead of the works to the Grade II listed market after investment from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme.
The works will include the partial demolition and construction of a new two-storey extension to the south of the building (at Butchers Corridor). This will accommodate a new commercial unit, planned to be a restaurant, with a roof terrace.
A centrally located food court will also be housed inside the revamped building, while City Square and Sincil Street will be re-paved and the roof on the existing market building will be replaced. New unisex and accessibly toilets will also be installed.
The works being carried out by local construction company Lindum are expected to be complete by the end of 2023.
Some £5.9 million investment has also been earmarked for the project thanks to a successful bid for funding through the Be Lincoln Town Deal, which has seen £19 million awarded to the city by government to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
Design for a potential new-look Lincoln Central Market. | Photo: COLC
The proposed scheme is for the major regeneration of the Central Market building, which will include:
The opening up of the blind arches on the north and east elevations
A new mezzanine floor and relocation of the existing butcher and fishmonger stalls into the main market hall under the mezzanine incorporating its own glazed entrance
Replacement roofing and glazed lantern
Demolition of the butcher’s corridor to the south of the building and the construction of a new two storey extension to accommodate a new restaurant with a roof terrace
New heating and lighting in the building
Freestanding stalls in the interior space of a contemporary, minimal design for local businesses to promote local produce and an area within the centre of the Market Hall to accommodate seating for the associated food outlets within the stalls.
Unisex toilets including disabled and baby changing facilities
It is also proposed to repave and enhance external areas in City Square and Sincil Street to encourage the evening economy, with space for outdoor dining by the waterway and events.
The addition of the mezzanine level will allow for additional seating and flexible uses. The creation of the standalone restaurant unit within the new two storey extension, will create a further ‘destination’ dining space as well as supporting the evening economy.
Some pretty major works are planned for Lincoln’s Central Market. | Image: Daniel Ionescu for The Lincolnite
Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The vision for Central Market for some time has been to design a building of destination, an attractive and modern retailing and leisure space, offering a mix of stalls and delivering a place where people want to visit and dwell rather than simply pass by en-route to the High Street or the Transport links in the city.
“Thanks to funding from government’s Towns Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), we now have the opportunity for major investment into the market to create a sustainable future for this important historical asset, which will in turn support the diversification and recovery of the High Street.”
The market was first built in 1937 to the design of architect Robert Atkinson and incorporates the relocated façade of the original 1737 butter market, which was located at St Peters at Arches in Lincoln.