Never mind

“Never mind life expectancy, never mind cancer outcomes”, says Boris Johnson, in what is even by his low standards a startling admission. I mean, really? Before you say, “Well, that was taken out of context”, actually it wasn’t. It’s literally what he said. And people still love ‘Boris’?

Personally, I do mind life expectancy, not just mine but the life expectancy of family, friends and the billions of people I shall never meet. And why? Because, if like me you have no religious superstitions, this life is your only one. This is not a trial run. It’s this or nothing. We know that for the first time in a long time, life expectancy has stalled, particularly for those on low incomes but Johnson says “never mind” about that. But then he says “never mind cancer outcomes”.

To people who have cancer or those who know and love people with cancer, we mind, too. We all know someone who has had cancer, most likely someone who has died of it. I don’t remember thinking, “oh never mind” about their outcome. All I cared about and all I care about is that people recover from cancer. All my life and at all ages, from childhood onwards, I have known people who had cancer and died of it. “Never mind life expectancy, never mind cancer outcomes” was never part of my thinking. I would not want to be associated with anyone to whom that was their abiding philosophy. But then, that’s why I don’t like and would never vote for Boris Johnson. Not only is he a liar and a charlatan: he’s a heartless, uncaring man, getting by with a faux clown act and for reasons best known to themselves, people seem to love him. Love a man who doesn’t care about cancer outcomes.

I am always hearing people say they hate politicians. They’re liars and they’re only in it for themselves. And then one comes along, with added narcissism, and they love him. They love a man who doesn’t give a toss about life expectancy.

That’s Britain today. On our way to hell in a handcart, led by a man who doesn’t care if you die young, doesn’t give a toss about cancer outcomes. “Vote for me, vote to die.” Good idea?