UK Politics

Boris Johnson’s bad behaviour: How declining trust in the prime minister affects trust in British democracy.

— A new survey shows a strong link between trusting the prime minister and trusting the government, Parliament and political parties.

Brexit

Post-Brexit Britain is going rotten.

— The moral rot of Boris Johnson’s conduct is part and parcel of a deeper malaise in which Brexit and ‘Brexit COVID’ have created a country that is literally and metaphorically rotting away.

OPINION

Reason Johnson is unfit for office number 9,999.

— Boris Johnson comparing the agonies of Ukraine with Brexit, claiming that both are examples of standing up for freedom, is a crass insult to crassness.

OPINION

Bear faced hypocrisy.

— As they lament the terrible spectacle of Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine, the UK Government’s hand-wringing has more than a touch of hypocrisy.

OPINION

“Make Brexit Work” is the only way forward right now.

— I want to be in the EU, but I tend to think Keir Starmer is right that there is no way to do it (for the foreseeable future) and that therefore it is a pointless fight – especially as waging that fight is playing right into the hands of the Tories.

OPINION

British nationalism means power is never held to account.

— As you don’t agree to an out of court settlement if you are confident that you can win your case in a court of law, you just don’t give a prime minister the power of unaccountability.

COMMENT

PM resignation – A show of hypocrisy.

— Tory MP tweets her indignation at the thought that Senior Conservatives such as John Major or Theresa May dare to publicly call for Boris Johnson’s resignation... forgetting she, herself, tweeted about Theresa May being toasted back in 2019 and having voted her out.

Analysis

Boris Johnson exposes the weakness at the heart of a ‘good chaps’ rule of government.

— In the UK, there is very little to stop a leader who doesn’t care to comply with unwritten norms.

Analysis

Cost of living crisis – Historical evidence suggests voters could quickly turn against Tories.

— As household budgets come under strain, so does support for governments, as Boris Johnson should note.

OPINION

Westminster: Where it’s a bigger sin to call out a liar for lying than it is to lie.

— It is clear both that Boris Johnson will not go quietly and it is unlikely that backbench Tories will find enough of a collective spine to unseat him as they are desperate to move on from the Downing Street parties.

The Week In Tory

The Week in Tory – Friday 28 Jan.

— Believe it or not, this covers Tory events that took place in the last 24 hours compiled by the great Russell Jones.

Analysis

Boris Johnson polling is now so bad that it makes sense for Conservative MPs to get rid of him.

— If Boris Johnson is not replaced by a new leader, backbench Conservative MPs would be well advised to start brushing up their CVs in preparation for life after Westminster.

Brexit

Partygate, populism and Brexit.

— Partygate doesn’t mean that we’ve seen the end of the populist politics that underpinned and flowed from Brexit, still less of Brexit itself. It may not even mean the end of Johnson, whose fate remains precariously in the balance.

OPINION

Johnson is a symptom of a chronically sick Westminster.

— We were all suffering isolation for the greater good, in order to protect ourselves and our vulnerable friends and relatives, whilst Boris Johnson was himself ignoring the rules that the rest of us had to follow.

UK Politics

How to oust a Tory leader: The rules explained.

— Everything you need to know about Conservative leadership contests.

OPINION

Trapped between a rock and a party place.

— At this point in time, it might be easier for Boris Johnson to list the days when there wasn’t a booze-up in Downing Street.