Boris Johnson calls David Cameron 'girly swot' in leaked note

[CottonBear]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/06/boris-johnson-calls-david-cameron-girly-swot-in-leaked-note

Boris Johnson referred to David Cameron as a “girly swot” in a recent cabinet paper, an unredacted version of court documents has shown, prompting condemnation of the prime minister for sexist insults.

During his inaugural prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Johnson seemed to call Jeremy Corbyn “You great big girl’s blouse” in relation to the Labour leader’s refusal to back an immediate general election.

...snip...

The revelation of the latest insult prompted scorn from Labour MPs. The party’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, tweeted: “It’s like this particular cohort of Bullingdon Club and Old Etonians hit their emotional plateau before graduation from Oxford. Johnson and Rees-Mogg in particular see politics as a game.”

Alison McGovern, the Wirral South MP, tweeted: “‘Big girl’s blouse’, ‘Girly swot’. What is it about big smart women Boris Johnson doesn’t like?”

[dewsgirl]

1. What is a girly swot?

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Cambridge Dictionary:

A girly swot is someone who always does their homework or prepares for something.

[dewsgirl]

3. Thank you. Odd that, this is an insult.

[fleur-de-lisa]

7. IKR. How is that an insult?

I guess I am a girly swot then.

[dewsgirl]

8. Me too.

[honest.abe]

13. I think its like saying boring pansy bookworm.

Still a weird insult. I guess you have be a Brit to understand it fully.

[geardaddy]

6. I've heard "swot" on its own

I was told it's basically a teacher's pet or brown noser.

[abqtommy]

4. I've known that Boris "Ya doesn't have to call me" Johnson

is a corrupt, inbred person since the 2016 "non-binding referendum" leave/stay vote. He doesn't own a comb and wouldn't know how to use one if he did. The guy has no couth at all, like his brothers tRUMP and Nigel Farage! I know I missed some others, like "Tommy Robinson"... Feel free to add to the list!

[doc03]

5. What does that mean in American English?

[LeftishBrit]

9. 'Girly' means 'girly man'; 'sissy'

'Swot' = not sure of the equivalent term in America, but implies a boring person who works hard at their studies, which to the likes of Boris is not a favoured characteristic!

In combination 'girly swot' would imply someone who is a 'square' in old-fashioned slang; not 'one of the boys'; would rather sit at home reading a book than go out with the guys and get pissed as a newt every night.

[LeftishBrit]

10. I'm as bothered by the sneering at academic effort ('swot') as the sexism

Last edited Fri Sep 6, 2019, 06:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Boris has the attitude, not uncommon among some of the English (and I do mean English; it's not nearly as notable in other parts of the UK) that intellectual interests and the pursuit of knowledge are suspect and make you boring and unattractive. Spontaneous brilliance may be OK, but actually *making an effort* to study and learn is not! I think it is probably linked to a traditional class system whereby the upper classes don't need to study. and the lower classes shouldn't be aping their betters by studying. The availability of education has changed considerably, as has pressure for good marks, but some of the attitudes have remained the same. In the case of a leader, this is worrying, because it means that learning the facts before you act, attending to detail, doing your research before jumping into some nuttery such as no-deal Brexit; are rejected in favour of impulsive 'leaps of faith'. There is probably also an element of Johnson's rivalries with Cameron from schooldays onwards, and in particular of his never quite forgiving Cameron for getting a better degree at university than he did!

[Ghost Dog]

11. Very well put!

Only the poor need to study and to work hard to win scholarships to enter and leave with honours and all the right crony connections the elite UK school and 'varsity' system which produces and provides so many top Tory politicians and other 'leaders of society'.

'Swot' might be formally synonymous with 'studious', with 'nerdy' connotations, but the term is also contaminated, as is everything British, by the UK's persisting, unmerited, artificially sustained, socially-unjust class system.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. This is the "we are entitled to make no effort" attitude - about parliament meeting

and actually doing its job in September - Johnson thinks they should be able to more or less extend their 5 week summer holiday through September. Watson is right to link this attitude to Rees-Mogg too - it's why he was reclining on the front bench, with the implication of "I shouldn't really be here, this is just a waste of my time".

Jeez, who'd have thought Cameron would have the moral high ground on making an effort?