Boris Johnson lacks 'strength of character' to be PM - voters' concerns
The new prime minister made lots of promises about Brexit, and now voters are wondering whether he can deliver.
Tuesday 23 July 2019 23:05, UK
When Boris Johnson visited Cornwall in May 2016 and promised a brighter future under Brexit, a lot of people believed him.
As he launched his Vote Leave battle bus tour in Truro, he waved a Cornish pasty from the vehicle's entrance, exuding a combination of confidence, humour and positivity.
But for the people who believed him then, there are serious issues to be considered now.
In a county where tourism is still the biggest industry, wages are lower than the national average, and transport infrastructure is in need of investment.
Even though Cornwall has received nearly £1bn in European Union funding during the past 20 years, it voted to leave the EU in the referendum, the month after Mr Johnson waved his pasty.
Away from the pastry and the fish and chips, Cornwall remains one of the most deprived areas in the UK, and so all eyes are now on Mr Johnson to deliver on his promises.
"I expect Boris to do what he said he'd do - I expect him to get us out of Europe," said Angela Harrison, a fifth generation fishmonger on the harbour in the seaside town of Looe.
She is keen to exit the EU so that Britain can control its own fisheries and have a greater say on how much fish can be caught and where.
"I want him to help our fishing industry," she added. "I want him to focus on Brexit and deliver it. He has to get us out of Europe."
She has concerns though. "I think he's the right man for the job," she continued. "But I worry about whether he understands how us normal people live our lives. I worry that he doesn't understand the working classes and our challenges.
"He has to understand that fishing is an important industry to small towns like ours and he needs to get on with delivering Brexit. I expect him to deliver."
A few miles down the road and Charles Boney snips the unwanted stems from his carefully planted vines.
He is one of a growing number of vineyard owners producing English wines mainly for local consumption in restaurants and hotels.
Charles voted to remain and is now part of a local organisation campaigning to scrap Brexit.
"I think Boris lacks the intelligence and strength of character to be prime minister," he said.
"He has this almost blind faith that he can make a success of a no-deal Brexit when just about every business in the UK believes it would be a disaster."
Mr Boney added: "I can't see him healing the rifts in his own party let alone get parliament behind him in order to get Brexit through.
"I think the result in the next few months will be either a second referendum or a general election, neither of which will be a good outcome for Mr Johnson."