Good Morning Britain viewers were left feeling slightly baffled earlier today (Thursday 7 July) by Ben Shephard’s pronounced of the word ‘things’. Watch a clip from the show here:
Shephard was, inevitably, discussing Boris Johnson’s fate this morning before news of his resignation broke.
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“It’s amazing how quick things turn in politics,” he told co-presenter Susanna Reid.
But he didn’t say ‘things’, he said ‘tings’ with a hard ‘t’ at the beginning – something many pointed out was common in Jamaican or Irish accents.
One viewer shared the clip from the show on Twitter, writing: “Did he say what I think he said?”
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Someone else commented in disbelief: “Man said ‘tings’ like a Jamaican, mans on that Posh Patois.”
Another joked: “Yes Ben show dem you reach de tipping point.”
A third said: “Did he have some rice and peas for brekkie or what?”
One other wrote: “I speak on behalf of the nation of Ireland when I say I see nothing wrong with his pronunciation.”
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Many couldn’t work out if it had been a slip of the tongue or a deliberate pronunciation, with one suggesting that Ant and Dec must have been in on the action.
Johnson's resignation was announced shortly after 9am today, with a No. 10 source telling the PA news agency that he had spoken to Tory 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and agreed to stand down.
The source said a new leader would be ‘in place’ by the time the Conservative Party Conference rolls around in October.
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Confirming the resignation, a No. 10 spokesperson said: "The prime minister will make a statement to the country today."
Johnson, who was previously the Mayor of London, assumed office in July 2019, leading the country throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
His resignation comes after it was confirmed Johnson was previously made aware of an investigation into inappropriate behaviour from Conservative MP Chris Pincher back in 2019.
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Pincher resigned last week after he was accused of groping two men, and on Monday it emerged he had previously been investigated over his conduct three years previous.
Number 10 had initially denied that Johnson knew about the claims, but a spokesperson confirmed Johnson had been briefed on the complaint in 2019.
The spokesperson added: "I would add a caveat at least that this was related to a conversation, and what I believe to have been a brief conversation, that took place around three years ago."
Johnson apologised for appointing Chris Pincher deputy chief whip, saying it ‘was a mistake’ and admitted that ‘in hindsight the wrong thing to do’.
He said: "The complaint was cleared up, he apologised. It was raised with me, I was briefed on what had happened and if I had my time again I'd think back on it and I'd realise he wasn't going to learn a lesson and he wasn't going to change."
The resignation also follows a wave of other resignations within the party as fellow Conservatives put pressure on Johnson to step down, including Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: TV and Film, Good Morning Britain, UK News
