I haven’t watched Love, Actually: Boris Johnson admits he has NEVER watched the 2003 rom-com that inspired his viral election video – but is aware of ‘the general theme’
- Tory leader discussed Love Actually-themed campaign clip on visit to JCB plant
- Told Julia Hartley-Brewer that he was ‘aware’ of the rom-com’s ‘basic concept’
- Also discussed climate change and accused Mr Corbyn of being ‘Brexit blocker’
Boris Johnson has admitted to never watching Love Actually after appearing in a campaign video inspired by the 2003 rom-com, although he said he was aware of ‘the general theme’.
The Tory leader also revealed he would seek to emulate the Prime Minister character played by Hugh Grant by ‘standing up to the United States’ on issues including the need to fight global warming.
Asked by Talk Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer whether he’d actually watched the film, the PM said: ‘I’ve not seen all of it from beginning to end because I’m so busy, but I, I’m familiar with the basic concept and the fantastic work done by Hugh Grant.’
Boris Johnson appeared in a Conservative campaign video where he recreated a famous scene from Love Actually
Mr Johnson’s Love Actually-themed broadcast saw him trying to counter tactical voting and turnout complacency concerns by emulating the famous scene between Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightly.
One by one he turned over a set of billboards – which each only had a few words on – addressed to a woman he was trying to woo from across the threshold. These included messages like ‘get Brexit done’ and ‘the other guy could win’.
Speaking to Talk Radio, Mr Johnson was asked whether he had anything in common with the film’s Prime Minister, who is seen standing up to Billy Bob Thornton’s fictional president by criticising him at a press conference.
‘I think we do have to stand up to the United States sometimes, and there are issues where we take a very different view,’ Mr Johnson said.
‘I mean, for instance, on climate change, this is a government that’s going to cut CO2 emissions massively.
‘We are leading the world and want to be carbon neutral by 2050, we’ll be Corbyn neutral by Christmas, by the way…
‘The current White House doesn’t share our point of view about climate change. I think they’re wrong. But we make that case very forcefully and we will continue to do so.’
Asked by Talk Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer whether he’d watched the film, he said: ‘I’ve not seen all of it from beginning to end because I’m so busy, but I, I’m familiar with the basic concept and the fantastic work done by Hugh Grant’
The Conservative leader started his day by delivering milk in Leeds as part of his final election push
Mr Johnson, who was visiting the JCB headquarters near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, also used the interview to refer to embarrassing comments made by key Corbyn ally Jonathan Ashworth.
Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary warned that Downing Street officials would be forced to ‘move to safeguard security’ if his leader won tomorrow’s election, before adding that working class voters ‘couldn’t stand him’.
The PM told Ms Hartley-Brewer: ‘I think John Ashworth was very sensible was in what he said about Mr Corbyn’s views on, whether it’s Hamas, Hezbollah, the IRA, his associations in the past unquestionably do raise questions about the security clearance that he might have.
‘And I’m afraid even more important than that, John Ashworth identified him as a Brexit blocker. He wants to stop Brexit.’
Mr Ashworth later insisted he had been ‘joshing’ with Mr Corbyn in the comments, which were recorded without his knowledge.
Mr Johnson, who was visiting the JCB headquarters near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, also used the interview to refer to embarrassing comments made by key Corbyn ally Jonathan Ashworth (pictured today)
The Shadow Health Secretary said working class voters ‘couldn’t’ stand’ Mr Corbyn (seen today in Glasgow)