The Injustice of it All: How is Boris Johnson still hanging on?

In spite of scandals, cover-ups and misleading parliament, Johnson continues to hold a firm grip upon his party and his position in the office of British Prime Minister.

Photo from flickr.

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed that the demise of Boris Johnson was becoming increasingly likely, if not inevitable. And yet, in the wake of war in 21st century Europe, Johnson continues to lead the United Kingdom as our Prime Minister.

Much of the conversation surrounding Johnson’s inadequacy was diluted with Russia’s sudden invasion of Ukraine – a shocking and devastating event that absolutely demands the attention that it is receiving. But the fact remains that Boris Johnson is – at least in my opinion – unfit for political office. His priorities are not those which are best for the United Kingdom, but rather those which are best for him, Boris Johnson.

Selfishness is, and will be, his greatest downfall.

For Johnson, an avid and self-declared fan of Winston Churchill, the war in Ukraine is a publicity stunt of a lifetime. Not only is Johnson able to emulate Churchillian-style rhetoric in the wake of Russia’s invasion, but he is also able to masquerade his shortcomings as the world turns its head towards Russian aggression. In many ways, it is ironic that the collapse of Ukrainian independence and democracy is being condemned by the very man who illegally prorogued our parliament and allegedly broke the national restrictions that he himself imposed at the height of the pandemic.

Johnson is a chancer – an affable rogue who forges his own path of destruction under the disguise of a bumbling personality. We cannot let this man embarrass our country and our sacrifices, even in the face of a world-wide crisis.

I must make it clear that this is not to disrespect the people of Ukraine, or the suffering that they are experiencing. The invasion of their country is appalling, and must be stopped through the unity of European and other Western powers. It is, however, an insult to the British people that Johnson continues to hold office, and an insult to democracy that he has not been politically condemned.

The partygate scandal left many up and down the country in complete shock, and while the investigation into several of those parties by the Metropolitan police is yet to be concluded, the update of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s forthcoming report condemned the role of both politicians and civil servants who attended the gatherings. Particular emphasis was put on the leadership in Number 10, and Johnson was quick to react by establishing plans for a new office for the Prime Minister, in addition to relieving key aides of their duties – alongside the ones who left of their own accord.

In the grand scheme of things, however, Partygate is just the tip of the iceberg. Johnson has continually misled Parliament in an attempt to deliver his own, self-gratifying agenda. His misquoting of figures would be understandable if he were willing to correct the record – after all, we all make mistakes, especially in the heat of the moment. Johnson’s inability to do this though is setting a dangerous precedent for the moral standards acceptable in high political office. Failing to admit his wrongdoings can only hinder free debate and lower the standards of parliamentary etiquette. The case of Johnson’s unfathomable claim over winter fuel subsidies, where he claimed the £140 winter support package was a weekly allowance when in actuality it was for the entire winter, is embarrassing to say the least. If politicians, party members, and even school children, cannot look to their Prime Minister to set exemplary standards, admitting when they are wrong and instilling the importance of truth and honesty in their every action, then something has gone catastrophically wrong.

Even in the case of his achievements, Brexit being his main claim to triumph, Johnson has shown his true colours. The populist slogan “get Brexit done” could not be further from the truth. It was Boris Johnson that assisted the charge of voting down Theresa May’s Brexit deal in 2019, before later passing an inferior bill after assuming the office of Prime Minister himself. The inferiority of this deal will, I’m sure, be disagreed upon by many a Brexiteer and Johnson cronie. It cannot be denied, however, that the deal Johnson passed was nothing but a slimmed down version of the deal that May had negotiated. 

It is at this juncture that a more cynical person might suggest Johnson voted down May’s deal deliberately in order to assume the role of Prime Minister himself. I, of course, wouldn’t dare to be such a person!

The fact remains that, in the wake of an ever-uncertain world, as European democracy faces its first major threat since the conclusion of the Cold War, Boris Johnson, for all his faults, persists as our Prime Minister. I do not doubt that times like these require political unity – if we are to stand up to Russian aggression we must do so on a united front. But we cannot forget the injustices that Johnson has executed, and the insult that he brings to political office.

I hope that in the wake of a more stable world (and hopefully a more peaceful one), Johnson’s inadequacy – proroguing Parliament, misleading debate, and violating national lockdown restrictions – will be remembered by his fellow Conservative MPs, and more importantly, the British people, when we once again return to the ballot box.

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