Boris Johnson admits he couldn’t understand SNP MPs speaking in House of Commons

Boris Johnson admits he couldn’t understand SNP MPs speaking in House of Commons

Former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confessed that he struggled to comprehend the accents of some SNP MPs during his time in the House of Commons. Johnson revealed that he would often resort to making up answers to questions posed by Nationalist MPs due to his difficulty in understanding them. In an interview with former MP Gyles Brandreth for the Rosebud podcast, Johnson admitted to providing “very, very general” responses to SNP members.

SNP MP Stephen Gethins responded to Johnson’s confession, highlighting that there was a mutual lack of understanding, as he found it challenging to grasp Johnson’s policies that impacted constituents negatively. Gethins pointed out that while SNP MPs were advocating for progressive ideas such as poverty alleviation and opportunities for young people, Johnson’s Conservative government was criticised for its right-wing stance and detrimental effects on the country.

Pete Wishart, another SNP MP, added his perspective, noting that there was a belief among SNP members that Johnson often fabricated his responses. Wishart emphasised that Johnson’s inability to comprehend Scottish accents was overshadowed by the broader issues Scotland faced under his leadership, including Brexit consequences and misleading statements to Parliament.

Reflecting on his time at school, Johnson mentioned struggling with hearing issues due to glue ear but indicated that it did not impact his current hearing abilities. However, he admitted to occasional difficulties in understanding questions posed by SNP MPs in the House of Commons, leading him to provide vague responses.

In summary, Boris Johnson’s admission of struggling to understand SNP MPs’ accents sheds light on the communication challenges within the UK Parliament. The differing perspectives and policy priorities between the Tory government and SNP representatives underscore the need for effective dialogue and understanding in political discourse. The revelations from Johnson and the SNP MPs reflect broader issues of miscommunication and diverging priorities in the UK political landscape.