I first met Boris Johnson probably around 15 years ago as the MP for Henley, but really began to know him better when our paths crossed in the run up to his Mayor of London election campaign, and then in a professional sense as he carried out his Mayor of London duties competently and with flair towards the end of the first decade of this century.
I was working in the City and had stood in Lincoln in the General Election In 2005, and I had gone on to be headhunted to run the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign as its Campaign Director late in 2007. I had approached Boris and his team at City Hall both before the Mayoral Election and subsequently. We went on to work closely together to achieve a remarkable feat with the SKP Memorial campaign and the installation of a temporary 4th Plinth statue in Trafalgar Square, and a permanent statue in Waterloo Place, that many in evolved in politics, in London politics particularly, and certainly amongst probably the majority of the art establishment in our capital were definitely against and willing to fail – or certainly expecting us not to succeed.
The unveiling events were amazing to be a part of along with Battle of Britain veterans and representatives of so many countries and current air forces, including our own Royal Air Force, and at these events Boris Johnson was a star, and showed he was at ease with a pivotal role and he will no doubt shine as the new centre of our political world in the UK.
I sat in meetings with Boris Johnson, our new Prime Minister, with only two or three other people in the room for a number of hours and on various occasions during that successful campaign, I saw another side to him that the public and some journalists perhaps don’t see, or know.
He was eloquent, polite, on point, direct, understanding, had empathy and was quick to spot any flaws or positive attributes to an issue that could be either ironed out, or made the most of. He was a taskmaster who knew what his own mind was, and where he wanted to be on an issue and how that would play out with wider and disparate audiences.
I also saw him at his ebullient best – playing to a crowd, speaking at times slowly but then quickening the pace with verve and vigour as he stirred the souls of his appreciate listeners and pressed the buttons that made hearts race at the positivity and optimism of whatever message he wished to convey.
The man has undergone many trials and tribulations, as have those close to him, and he has been constantly denigrated in this campaign. He has, and continues to, put his heart into the public service he has carried out, whether as a Member of Parliament, a Shadow Minister, or Secretary of State or as a very successful, twice elected, Mayor of London.
He so easily could have succumbed to the naysayers, ‘retired’ for a quieter life and more wealthy professional pursuits – he has been paid well as a journalist as he has a flair and an understanding of what galvanises his readers. But he hasn’t – he has continued to plough his own furrow.
He has already achieved many things whilst in the political arena and he has now achieved the ultimate position of service and responsibility as Leader of the Conservative Party, which he has served so well, and now as Prime Minster of a country that like so many of us, he loves dearly.
I have no doubt he will serve with distinction and a steely determination to do what is right for our country as a whole, and its people; whether in the London village of Westminster, but more importantly the wider, depth and breadth of our great nation. He will be a Prime Minster for all. The vanquished other candidates can be proud of their own performances – and I am friends and would have accepted a number of them as our Prime Minister, but they were all up against an individual who is a one-off.
If you had put the formal front runners of the Conservative leadership campaign on Lincoln High Street, by the Stonebow or in Castle Square, I can guarantee after 10 minutes only one of the candidates, Boris, would have had a gaggle of 200 plus people round him wishing him the best, wanting selfies and/or his autograph.
He is a celebrity figure in a political age where that matters, as Tony Blair following Clinton and David Cameron followed them, showed. But Boris is slightly different. I will use a phrase used about me by Conservative city and county Cllr Hilton Spratt when I was first selected as the Parliamentary Candidate to fight to represent the Conservative Party in Lincoln, and then Lincoln in Westminster. Hilton has oft repeated the phrase, ‘…he has the common touch’.
My maternal grandfather, a plasterer, might have termed that a ‘backhanded compliment’ but as Boris Johnson seeks to Deliver Brexit, Unite the Country and Defeat Jeremy Corbyn – with energy and an energised Conservative party behind him – that common touch is going to go a long way with the ‘ordinary voters’ – maybe some who might not have voted Conservative before too, or perhaps have not ever voted for anyone before.
Boris understands the democratic process and whilst Delivering Brexit is important, so is Uniting our Country positively – and thirdly we stand together then as a [arty with a very credible record on the economy and all the other issues that matter in a general election, to ensure we defeat the far left Corbynites led by Jeremy Corbyn.
The acronym is ‘DUDE’ as Boris himself pointed out in his acceptance speech – …and DUDE – am I happy with this result.
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Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A 24-year-old man has been jailed after a routine stop for no seat belt turned into a short pursuit in Gainsborough.
James Smith was driving a silver Subaru Impreza when he failed to stop for police on June 30 last year.
He was followed along Lea Road in Gainsborough, where he caused vehicles to take avoiding action. However, he also collided with two cars before turning into Foxby Hill.
James Smith was sentenced to 15 months in prison. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
On Foxby Hill, the car then collided with another vehicle before leaving the road to the nearside. Three men were seen to run from the vehicle.
Lincolnshire Police ARV Unit said: “Luckily for the driver his running skills were better than his driving. Plenty of clues left behind though.”
Items left behind included a mobile phone, a baseball cap and a set of house keys.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Smith was the driver and he was charged with dangerous driving.
On April 7, Smith was sentenced to 15 months in prison at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and nine months.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.
Update: The driver did indeed leave some clues behind and was put before the courts. Result: 15 months Custodial and a 7 year 9 month driving disqualification https://t.co/Kyo8D55aqspic.twitter.com/Eqynm0zEbK
— Lincolnshire Police ARV Unit (@LincsARV) April 15, 2021
A 34-year-old man has died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The collision happened at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, April 14, on Kirton Road, Blyton near to Blyton Park Driving Centre.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle.
The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
The road was closed at the time of the collision and reopened at 3.15 am on Thursday, April 15.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement: “Our officers completed a thorough investigation of the scene and their inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the collision.
“We have spoken to some witnesses already and are appealing for anyone else who saw the collision or either motorcycle travelling prior to the collision and for anyone who has dashcam footage of the motorcycles or the collision to contact us.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting incident 308 of April 14.
The incident marked the second fatality on a road in the county within just a few hours.
There have been 63 new coronavirus cases and one COVID-related death in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, compared to 93 cases and no deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 40 new cases in Lincolnshire, 13 in North Lincolnshire and 10 in North East Lincolnshire.
On Thursday, one death was registered in North Lincolnshire, none in North East Lincolnshire but -1 in Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England has reported no new local hospital deaths on Thursday, the second day in a row this week.
National cases increased by 2,672 to 4,380,976, while deaths rose by 30 to 127,191.
In local news, more than 500,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have now been administered in Lincolnshire, of which over 425,000 were first doses.
The weekly data released on Thursday shows altogether 508,280 jabs have taken place between December 8 and April 11 — a further 39,915 in the last week, but an increase on the 32,282 jabs given the week before.
A 16-year-old girl from Bourne who works in a local care home has become one of the youngest people in the country to receive both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Ellie Goldsmith, who works at Yew Tree Residential in Dowsby, Bourne, has had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, most recently in Grantham on Friday, April 9.
Boston’s large COVID-19 vaccination centre will be hosting European days over the next two weekends to encourage more communities to have their first dose.
Held at the Princess Royal Sports Arena (PRSA) in Boston on Sunday, April 18 (10am-2pm) and Sunday, April 25 (10am-4pm), the days will offer a chance to be given a walk-in vaccine appointment without the need to book.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to April 14:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 7 to Apr 14. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, introducing COVID status certificates to help reopen society risks discriminating against some groups, the UK equality watchdog has warned.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission says certificates to prove who is vaccinated could help to ease restrictions “in principle”.
But they could create a “two-tier society whereby only certain groups are able to fully enjoy their rights”.
Fighting airborne transmission is key to any future attempts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, a BMJ editorial has said.
The editorial looked at how a cloud of exhaled smoke behaves to suggest people are most likely to get the virus when they are standing within one metre of someone who has it.
Lincolnshire’s COVID cases up to April 15.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, April 15
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,876 cases (up 63)
40,996 in Lincolnshire (up 40)
9,267 in North Lincolnshire (up 13)
8,613 in North East Lincolnshire (up 10)
2,182 deaths (up one)
1,610 from Lincolnshire (down one)
304 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,380,976 UK cases, 127,191 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.
A teenager from Lincoln will embark on a marathon run to raise money for a charity set up after her childhood best friend died of cancer.
Jamie Elsom lost his life on April 22, 2019 after a battle with Ewings Sarcoma, a form of cancer, at just 12-years-old.
It started when Jamie had a fall playing football as a 10-year-old, which initially looked fine but eventually developed into finding a tumour on his tibia.
Jamie Elsom devastatingly lost his battle with cancer at just 12-years-old. | Photo: Lynsay Mountain
After two years of tireless battles and endless treatment, Jamie tragically died in hospital, “leaving a gap which will never be filled”, according to his mum Donna Elsom.
One of Jamie’s best friends, Laurel-Ashleigh Mountain, 14, is currently fundraising for Jamie-Forever12, a charity set up in his memory.
Laurel will be running the equivalent of a marathon on Saturday, June 5 in memory of her friend, and has raised £590 by the time of publication.
The charity aims to give seriously ill under-16s a present each Christmas, something which was very close to Jamie’s heart.
Laurel’s mum Lynsay Mountain explained just how strong her daughter’s bond with Jamie was.
She told The Lincolnite: “They had been friends since preschool, becoming closer and closer as they grew up. They even called themselves brother and sister.
“Jamie and Laurel confided in each other and chatted every day, hanging out in the village when Jamie was well enough.
“When Jamie passed away, Laurel said it was like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces, it affected her both mentally and physically. It was awful.”
Laurel has been training hard to make Jamie proud. | Photo: George Holman-Brown
Laurel has suffered a lot with anxieties and insecurities since Jamie’s death, but she hopes this running challenge will be just the motivation she needs.
“Running the equivalent of a marathon will be a challenge, I’m a bit nervous but I know Jamie will be with me and be proud that I am stepping out of my comfort zone.
“For Jamie I would do anything. He’s my brother and I’ll miss him every single day of my life.”