‘In loathing memory’ bank plaque mocking Boris Johnson disappears

A pew plaque in “loathing memory” of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been removed.

The Tory politician’s popularity had its ups and downs, but as scandals mounted that year it plummeted until he finally resigned altogether.

And it seems for the people of Atherton, Wigan, his legacy is not a good one.

A plaque was discovered on a bench on Market Street last week reading: “In loathing memory of Alexander ‘Boris’ De Pfeffel Johnson. Prime Minister June 2019 to July 2022. Forgotten but not gone.”

But according to Wigan Today, the epitaph has been removed to date. Nobody knows who installed it or who took it down.

Anita and Brian Thomas, whose Dry Clean Center store has the bank on their doorstep, said the plaque is something of a tourist attraction.

“Everyone’s coming now, two bobbys came and one was tying his shoelaces on the bench, when I asked them if they’d seen the plaque they were shocked,” Anita said.

“It seems to be getting famous. People come to town just to see it.

“We have no idea who put it up. But we weren’t. I like Boris but I giggled. It’s online now, everyone’s come down.’

For husband Brian, Johnson’s tenure was “one of the worst premierships in history.”

“But he had to deal with a lot. We didn’t put up the sign, but we laughed when we saw it,” he said.

Anita added that the plaque was “one of the strangest things” the couple have ever seen in the city center in the 46 years that the family laundromat has operated.

Residents aren’t quite sure what to make of the bank’s dig against Johnson, let alone the ex-Tory leader himself.

A local, Lauren White, said: “I think it’s a waste of money for someone who wants to speak their mind. But I think people managed to really take the mick.

“A bench like this is usually for something sad or a bereavement. I just thought it was awesome, in a funny way, when I saw it.’

Her friend Susan Street said she was by no means a “fan” of Johnson.

“I think that’s how a lot of people in the North West feel about him. He should have gone sooner,’ she said.

‘I think he should have left right away. They’ve waited so long to solve this cost of living crisis [while they had a leadership election].

“I can’t see anything good from him, he was a bit ridiculous. Everyone around the world looks at him and thinks he’s a joke, so that pretty much sums it up.

Johnson’s political journey from journalist to Britain’s leader ended when nearly 60 Minutes quit in July over his dealings with Chris Pincher.

Although he gave his party an overwhelming 80-seat majority and delivered Brexit, his undoing was his own doing.

That included several lockdown-breaking parties, Wallpapergate, who appeared to have had no idea what to do after the UK left the EU and said he’d rather see ‘corpses piled up’ than the country into a third lockdown bring to.

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