Politics

Flood victim tells 'little man' Boris Johnson to 'get on his bike' after photo op


Furious locals in a flood-hit part of Britain yesterday turned their anger on Boris Johnson as he finally made an appearance in their devastated town.

The PM faced a barrage of ­criticism during a tour of ­Stainforth, South Yorks, almost a week after it was deluged, forcing hundreds of residents to flee.

Locals tore into Tory ­promises of cash aid after insisting recent pledges have come to nothing.

While some let their feelings be known to embarrassed Mr Johnson, others snubbed him as he tried in vain to engage them in conversation.

The PM, who still refused to declare
a national emergency over the floods, was watching some of the 100 troops
he sent in, when one local yelled: “You took your time Boris.”

Another said: “You’ve not helped us … I don’t know what you’re here today for.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with a local woman pushing a wheelbarrow

 

Cleaner Billie Troops, 39, asked him in a community centre: “Boris, why has it taken you five days to come here?”

Questioning the PM’s pledge of cash aid, she added: “Is that a promise though? Because you promised us months ago that you were going to give our community £25million to make the community better, for town funds. We’re still waiting for it, Boris.”

The PM was then asked: “Is that a lie again?”

Resident Pat Knight, 60, refused to shake Mr Johnson’s hand and asked: “Why did it take you five days to come north of the Watford Gap?”

Angela Causer described Boris Johnson as an “annoying little man”

 

Cleaner Shelly Beniston, told him how they had been “crying out for help” but it had come “too late”.

Local Labour councillor Sue Durant berated the PM for his delay in visiting.

She told him: “People have lost their possessions and it has taken you over five days. You should have been there Saturday morning.”

Angela Causer, whose home was ravaged by Friday’s flood, was helping the Army move sandbags when she saw Mr Johnson, and ignored his offer to chat.

The 58-year-old Prison Service worker said later: “He’s an annoying little man who didn’t even get his wellies wet. I was going to vote for him until he said it wasn’t a national ­emergency. It might not be for him but it’s devastating for us.”

Around 500 homes have been flooded and 1,200 properties ­evacuated in the South Yorkshire region. Many houses are uninsured because of previous flooding.

Boris Johnson walks with an Environment Agency official

Army officials walked the politician through the flood-hit town

 

Residents are living in fear of a second wave of flooding after the Met Office warned of a possible storm today with up to 60mm rainfall.

The nearby village of Fishlake has been deluged by the floods that also left farms in Lincolnshire cut off.

Mr Johnson could find no haven from the angry locals in his official car. Volunteers plonked cleaning products on his lap.

One told him: “Are you going to Fishlake, are you going to take some supplies with you?”

Locals in flooded Bentley, six miles from Stainforth, told of their fury at Mr Johnson, even though he never visited them.

Gwen Kincel, 69, said: “What the hell do we need him for?

A view of the flood water at Fishlake

Gwen Kincel was less than impressed with the PM

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“He hasn’t done anything for us. It’s a good job he didn’t come because I would have said, ‘Get on your bike.’”

The PM promised relief funding of £500 for each affected home and up to £2,500 for small ­businesses.

But he refused to apologise to those devastated by the flooding. Mr Johnson said: “I made clear that the Government stands ready to support in any way we can.”

He defended the five days it had taken him to visit Yorkshire, insisting he had been at the other affected areas, adding. “There’s been a round the clock response,” he said.

There was more trouble for Mr Johnson away from the floods as former Cabinet minister David Gauke, now an independent MP, warned a Tory election victory would trigger a “disastrous no-deal Brexit ”.

Jeremy Corbyn admitted while on the campaign trail in Scotland that Labour could block a second ­referendum on independence.





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