Mark Drakeford unrepentant about calling Boris Johnson ‘awful’ in S4C documentary
Mark Drakeford is unrepentant about calling Boris Johnson “awful” in an S4C fly on the wall documentary on handling the Covid-19 pandemic.
The First Minister says he hasn’t apologised to the Prime Minister of the UK since making the comments following a Cobra meeting in December 2020.
During an interview with House Magazine, he laughed about making the remarks, which were broadcast in the programme Prif Weinidog Mewn Pandemig (First Minister in a Pandemic).
He said: “The reason I said it is because he was awful in that meeting.”
He added: “He couldn’t remember people’s names. He seemed fairly loosely attached to the agenda.
“And you got to the end of the meeting and thought, this was not the opportunity it ought to have been.”
In the programme Mark Drakeford is seen dialling into a COBRA conference call to discuss the closing of the border between the UK and France on 21 December.
It was the first meeting between the First Minister and the Prime Minister in three months.
Boris Johnson is heard saying: “Thanks everybody for joining this call. I think we must urgently look at the implications of the travel ban that some of our European friends have imposed.
“We will hear from Mark Drakeford and… various others.”
Mark Drakeford is heard to scoff and then say “Dear me, he really, really is awful,” as the meeting comes to an end.
“Imagine that some deadly new variant of the virus had been discovered in France and they were trying to persuade us that there was no need to take any action to stop French lorry drivers from driving across the continent!” he says.
"Dear me, he really, really is awful"
Mae hi wedi dod i'r amlwg fod y Prif Weinidog Mark Drakeford wedi beirniadu Prif Weinidog y DU Boris Johnson yn dilyn cyfarfod COBRA cyn yn Nadolig.
Cafodd y sylwadau eu darlledu mewn rhaglen ddogfen ar S4C nos Sul. pic.twitter.com/n44ZgIdHON
— Newyddion S4C (@NewyddionS4C) March 8, 2021
An aide then asks him: “Do you need any minutes from that meeting?”
‘Contempt’
To which he replies with contempt: “No, I don’t think there’s anything at all. Other than wringing our hands in a sense of despair.”
Mark Drakeford is asked earlier in the programme about his relationship with Boris Johnson and says they have nothing in common apart from having studied Latin.
“The government in London, they see the world, and they see the UK, through the eyes of London,” he says.
“Sometimes that doesn’t work for us. If we have to do what they want us to do in London there’s no point to the Senedd here in Wales.
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Mark Drakeford yn iawn! Mae Borisconi yn wirioneddol ofnadwy!
That’s a relief…
Drakeford is a master of understatement. Boris is a complete and utter failed manager of the State. To date he survives as a politician because some people have an appetite for his drivel and gibberish, but that will all change fairly soon.
I usually quite like Drakeford, but on this occasion he ought to be very repentant. He did not express himself anything like strongly enough.
Remember thinking that our new first minister had the charisma of ‘roadkill’, How wrong I was.
He has shown himself to be a true statesman and politician of and for the people. What a colossal contrast with that so called prime minister!
Just need to develop more towards the indy direction of travel now Mark – for all your pro union comments, its obvious the Wurstminster regime couldnt give a #### for Wales!
Cytuno y llwyr.
Mark Drakeford – understated, classy and honest with a lovely sense of humour. A politician that truly answers every question put to him – no ducking or twisting any question, just answers it. A rare politician, what you see is what you get and deserves respect for it. Yes, Boris is absolutely awful and Drakeford rightfully tells it as it is. Da iawn Mark, paid newid dim.
Johnson deserves a kick in the face, not an apology.
Using the word unrepentant seems to wrongly suggest that Mr Drakeford might have done something wrong.
Who is going to be the First – first minister of North Wales!?
Mark Drakeford is right. Boris Johnson is awful. Personally, I would have described him using more fruitier language.
He is the worst PM in history. A fool. Whose idiocracy can only drive more to our cause. And I thank him for it.
#:YesCymru 🏴 👍 #Ymlaen 🏴 👍
Mark was very gentle about Bojo. We call him far worse and the very sad thing is they are all true!!!
When is he going to realise Westminster will ‘always’ see the world through the eyes of London, it will never change. However, it appears Drakeford is now talking to Plaid – perhaps it is finally beginning to sink in then, we can only hope, for our children’s sake.
Mark Drakford has done a splendid job during the Pandemic. His description of Mr Johnson as awful is incorrect. He is incompetent at almost everything except lies.