Boris Beats a Hasty Retreat as Somerset Sends Him Packing

When Boris Johnson turned up in Somerset today, most people assumed he was looking for one of our famous ditches to die in. As it happens, he was hoping to get some publicity out of a visit to a school and a bakery. Sadly, for the Tory propaganda machine he was met at every turn by protestors and forced to change his plans. Boris Johnson was heckled yet again as he visited a school this morning.

Hopes that after being booed by angry flood protestors up in Yorkshire yesterday the PM presumed that Tory Somerset would be safe territory for him, but clearly not so. Shouts  of “Boris out” rang out around West Monkton Primary School in Taunton where  he sat down with schoolchildren, discussing their favourite books and ,tempting fate, asked the children “Where’s Wally?”

The County Deserves better

Off to Glastonbury next it seemed. But no, as soon as he approached the ‘Burns the Bread’ unit, crowds more protestors lined the streets with placards ranging from ‘Boris is a liar’ to ‘Tory Policy Kills’ forcing him to head instead for nearby Wells.

Speaking this morning ,Labour candidate for Bridgwater & West Somerset Oliver Thornton said “Mr Johnson is visiting West Monkton Primary School today, which continues to suffer even AFTER his proposed cash “injection”. NEU independently verified figures suggest that the school will be underfunded by over 100k next year. That’s £240 per child. Over 50% of schools in Somerset will continue to suffer whilst at best others will struggle to “improve” to 2015 figures. Since 2010 austerity has blighted Somerset schools and SCCs ability to support them by slashing school budgets and council services. The children, parents and employers in the County deserve much better from Central Govt. There needs to be radical change to the way education is delivered.”

Johnson ‘Has No Shame’

Labour candidate for Taunton Deane, Liam Canham, said “Today Boris Johnson visited Taunton and in particular West Monkton Primary School. I find it quite incredible that Johnson has the gall to show his face at a School where his Governments policies has led to a £248 per pupil loss and a £100k shortfall in budget in 2020.   Clearly Johnson has no shame about the policies that have had such a severe impact on education services in this Country. Sadly, our own MP has been silent on such funding cuts and failed to stand up for our schools. Labour will create a National Education Service that moves towards cradle-to-grave learning that is free at the point of access. Significant investment will be made in early years, primary, secondary and FE/HE provision to ensure we can unlock the potential of all our children.”

In Glastonbury what the BBC described as ‘a small number of protestors’ in reality turned out to be nearer 150. Mr Johnson by passed the town and headed instead for nearby Wells for a photo opportunity at a bakery alongside fellow Tory James Heappey, and where he allegedly told customers: “There were lots of crusties there – more crusty than your loaves.” To which one commented “This is probably the only days work either of these clowns have done in their lives!”

Wells Labour candidate Kama Mckenzie was interviewed by Channel 4 Newspresenter Liz Bates  who asked about immigration, tactical voting and Boris.  Having earlier interviewed Lib Dem Tessa Munt who had suggested she ‘could win here if Labour stood down as the Greens have done’ Kama pointed out that the figures the Lib Dems had quoted were incorrect and instead talked about “the importance of voter’s having a genuine democratic choice” and how “Green voters were now disenfranchised”. Kama also about Labour’s Green policy and how it was so much better than that offered by the Lib Dems.

Somerset Says NO to Boris Johnson