Danny Dyer lays into Boris Johnson and clique ‘who all went to same school’ in rant on Covid-hit UK
‘The people who went to Eton can’t run this country’: Danny Dyer lays into Boris Johnson and clique ‘who all went to same school’ in rant on Covid-hit UK – and says it’s ‘time for working class people to get involved’ in leadership
- Danny Dyer tore into the privately educated political elite on a morning TV show
- The EastEnders actor said politicians who went to Eton ‘can’t run the country’
- He called for more working class people to come to the political foreground
- It is not Dyer’s first comment on British politics after a previous rant on Brexit
- He laid into former PM David Cameron for calling EU referendum before quitting
Danny Dyer has once again become an unlikely political commentator two years after he famously waded into the Brexit row.
More commonly known for his role on Eastenders and his ‘lad status’, the actor turned politico once again after he slammed Boris Johnson during a passionate rant about the state of Covid-hit Britain.
The 43-year-old said politicians who went to Eton are incapable of running the country and instead called for working class people to get involved in politics and use their ‘real life experience’ to run the country.
He said: ‘We must learn now that the people who went to Eton can’t run this country.
The EastEnders actor made the comments in a passionate rant about the state of Covid-hit Britain
‘They’ve done it, they’ve tried to do it and this small group who all went to the same school, in the same class – it doesn’t work.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was privately educated at Eton, as was his predecessor David Cameron.
A majority of British cabinet members serving under the current and former Prime Ministers in the last 10 years have also attended fee-paying schools.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Dyer called for diversity in politics and encouraged working class people to come to the political foreground.
He said: ‘I feel we need some working class peple, people who have lived a real life and people that are in touch with reality to maybe come to the front now and start getting involved in how this country is run.’
It is not the first time the actor has mouthed off about the state of British politics.
He previously called David Cameron a ‘t***’ during a discussion on Brexit, prompting calls for Dyer to step into the political ring himself.
Asked on Wednesday if he would ever consider going into politics full-time, Danny responded that he was ‘too busy’ reeling off his list of commitments including a game show and hosting a podcast with his daughter Danni.
He also referred to his role as Mick Carter in EastEnders, which he called ‘the greatest soap that has ever been’.
Dyer added: ‘Let’s watch the government unravel themselves I think.’
In a further nod to the Covid-hit nation he said: ‘Let’s just try and stay safe and not catch this thing, and I am sure on the other side we will all be better stronger and more considerate people for it.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) was privately educated at Eton, as was his predecessor David Cameron (right)
His comments prompted an outpouring of support on social media, with one user saying: ‘A man with a good heart and clear political perspective. Good on you Danny.’
Another wrote: ‘Eton boys get a kicking from Danny Dyer.’
One Twitter user praised him for being ‘sharp as a tack’.
Peter Woodward wrote: ‘The trouble with this “Eton” brigade in Govt is their priority of looking after their friends and own bank balances with public funds.
‘UK deeper in debt than ever, they are richer than ever, poor are poorer than ever.
‘No-one else has seen any benefit in their 10 years in govt (sic).’
Dave Jameson also posted on Twitter: ‘At last someone on TV speaking sense.
‘This government is to (sic) full of Professional politicians.
‘It needs people that have lived in the real world not in their ivory towers and spoilt world.’
But others implied Dyer was stirring up ‘class hatred’.
One wrote: ‘Class hatred pretty wide these days.’
Others were not so keen on Dyer’s stance on working class people running the country, instead saying the job should go to the best candidates.
Ian James Seale wrote on Twitter: ‘We need the ‘bright kids’ in charge of the country. Education, examination, experience and competence should usually go hand in hand with being a “bright kid”.
‘”Street smarts” have their value and place, but not necessarily within national government and international diplomacy.’
Dyer’s comments on Brexit were met with a similar response in 2018 when he called Cameron a ‘t***’ for calling the Brexit referendum and then resigning when he lost.
Dyer went viral after he tore into Mr Cameron over Brexit live on Good Evening Britain.
Dyer was inundated with support on social media after his comments on morning TV
This social media user praised Dyer’s ‘clear political perspective’ on Twitter
The EastEnders star gave ‘a kicking’ to the politicians who went to Eton, according to this user
The outpouring of support was similar to the praise he experienced in 2018 after laying into David Cameron over his handling of Brexit
Peter Woodward backed Dyer’s critics of the ‘Eton brigade’ in government
David Jameson said Dyer was ‘speaking sense’ on television over his comments
This social media user was not a fan of the thought of Dyer running the country
Other criticised Dyer’s comments, implying that he was stirring up ‘class hatred’
Derek on Twitter accused the political system of being ‘skewed’ to favour the ‘elite’
He lashed out at the ex Prime Minister for calling the divisive referendum before ‘scuttling off’ to ‘put his trotters up’.
Dyer then blasted the entire Brexit process as a ‘mad riddle’ – despite voting Leave himself.
Joe Brock wrote on Twitter ‘Brexit negotiations would definitely accelerate if we sent Danny Dyer to Brussels.’
Alex Lowe said on Twitter: ‘Danny Dyer speaks what a nation feels.’
