Skip to content
City PM
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
Thursday 14 July 2016 9:51 am

In quotes: Boris Johnson’s foreign insults and gaffes

By: Lynsey Barber

Add as a preferred source on Google

Oh Boris. The lovable rogue was an recognisable mascot for London, but taking on an official statesman role as foreign secretary? You'd be forgiven for having doubts about his diplomatic skills…

On China…

"Chinese cultural influence is virtually nil, and unlikely to increase…"

On Hilary Clinton…

"She's got dyed blonde hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital."

On Donald Trump…

'The only reason I wouldn't visit some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."

Read more: Safe pair of hands: The pound's jumped more than a cent against the dollar

On Barack Obama…

"No one was sure whether the President had himself been involved in the decision. Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan President's ancestral dislike of the British Empire — of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

On George W Bush…

"A cross-eyed Texan warmonger."

On the President of Turkey…

“A terrific wankerer”

On Papua New Guinea…

“For 10 years we in the Tory Party have become used to Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing.”

On Arnie…

"My speaking style was criticised by no less an authority than Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was a low moment, my friends, to have my rhetorical skills denounced by a monosyllabic Austrian cyborg."

Read more: Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle: Everything you need to know

On the Commonwealth…

"It is said that the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies"

On blurting out stupid things…

"If we judged everybody by the stupid, unguarded things they blurt out to their nearest and dearest, then we wouldn't ever get anywhere."

On disasters…

"My friends, as I have discovered myself, there are no disasters, only opportunities. And, indeed, opportunities for fresh disasters."

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business
  • Politics

Trending Articles

  • Burnham tax plans spark investor rush to bank capital gains

  • Nothing fails to file accounts months after dissolution threat

  • Cruyff turn: Starmer allows pubs to stay open for England World Cup game

  • I’ve taken the best train trips in the world. Here are my 5 favourites

  • PwC joins the Canary Wharf crowd in major property shake-up

More from City PM

  • Peace deal will be finalised Sunday, Trump says but Tehran casts doubt

    Politics
    Donald Trump at Pennsylvania CPA event, addressing financial policies to an audience of accounting professionals
  • Trump ban on AI access to foreign users forces Anthropic to suspend models

    Tech
    Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn
  • As it happened: Stocks mixed as Trump warns takes ‘two to tango’ on Iran peace

    Markets
    Donald Trump at Pennsylvania CPA event, addressing financial policies to an audience of accounting professionals
  • Trump blocked from sacking Fed official in landmark Supreme Court ruling

    Politics
  • As it happened: Stocks jump on defence and metals boost; Oil on track to shed a fifth on US-Iran peace hopes

    Markets
    FTSE 100 stocks rise as Brent crude oil prices jump 1.8% to $104.98 amid Strait of Hormuz tensions and Trumps Iran stance
  • As it happened: Stocks fall as US and Iran clash over Strait of Hormuz; Fed chair says inflation risk is easing

    Markets
    Bustling shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz with tankers and cargo ships navigating Iranian waters.
  • Oil prices rise as Trump warns of ‘very hard’ strikes against Iran

    Politics
    Donald Trump latest picture
  • As it happened: Stocks shrug off stalling Iran peace talks; OBR warns Reeves

    Markets
    Breaking news event with gathered crowd and journalists capturing the moment in a bustling city location

City PM — European politics, business and analysis.

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Topics

  • Business
  • Markets
  • AI
  • Technology
  • Opinion
  • Energy

More

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Fintech
  • Legal
  • Sport
  • Life

Company

  • About City PM
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 City PM · Published by CityPM Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
About · Editorial Policy · Corrections · Contact · Privacy