THE PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTURE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UNITY AND RENEWAL

The tidal wave of resignations by cabinet ministers, junior ministers, private secretaries and others finally drove Boris Johnson to steer his much-buffeted ship on to the rocks. His resignation was inevitable, probably since the vote of no confidence in which 41% of Tory MPs voted against him continuing in office. The resignation of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid triggered the final Tsunami.

While public polls are notoriously unreliable these days, it seemed that a majority of the public no longer trusted the Prime Minister. Most media pundits and numerous senior Tories had for some months been promoting his political demise. It has been apparent for some time, especially since party-gate rightly or wrongly, that the incessant rumblings about dishonesty and “one rule for them” were undermining the authority of the Prime Minister’s leadership. It has probably received more focus than the seismic effects of the evil Ukraine war. It was for example notable that, despite the city of Slovyansk being subject of a massive shelling attack and missiles striking Mykolaiv, The Times of 6 July featured nothing about that war except a minor article about Putin paying convicts to fight.

Whatever the past, the future and commitment to overcome challenges with wisdom, determination and hard work can realise the benefits of new opportunities this resignation offers. 

BORIS BLIND SPOTS

Now he has resigned, some may acknowledge the Prime Minister’s achievements as it is very English to eulogise the departed rather than continue character assassination: such as the ultimate outcomes from the pandemic, such as the saving of jobs and vaccination production and programmes, as well as Ukraine. Some will recognise the resolution of the Brexit impasse. A question mark has existed over his integrity and egomania for a long time, with many giving him the benefit of the doubt given the popular mandate at the last election and the huge Tory majority. Respect for Democracy alone required him to be allowed some slack. That his integrity has been so trashed is to a large degree his own fault through not learning from his mistakes, repeating them until “enough was enough”.Many politicians have a significant ego, especially if they aspire to be PM, and all spin facts and the truth to suit their pitch. The nature of the political system is that any such twisting is challenged. Boris took that too far. 

Taking big decisions has not been a serious failing. But delivery on big promises has been a failure and the election promises largely remain unfulfilled. Arguably the unforeseeable pandemic seriously impeded progress on those promises, and it is undeniable that supporting the population and the NHS through that time left the Government coffers seriously depleted, and the economic aftermath of the pandemic continues its global havoc. All of that exacerbated by Putin’s wanton destruction. But failing to deliver promises has not brought the PM down.

Boris Johnson’s judgement on handling relatively minor but highly public softer issues has seriously let him down. A blind spot is certainly his inability to control his tendency to test norms to the limit. He likes rogue behaviour. The revolving door of Conservative MPs accused of sexual peccadillos or worse were a challenge to Boris Johnson he could have done without. His tendency to let them off, to defend them and hope for the best time and again revealed itself. With party accusations he let rumour and speculation go on and on. He failed to learn from his mistakes of not lancing boils immediately. And the Chris Pincher, almost silly groping affair and history, was the last straw. Party- gate, Pattison and Pincher, all minor problems in the scheme of things compared to the global challenges of Ukraine war and climate change and the economic picture, did for Boris Johnson. An accumulation of sex pest type incidents which were not dealt with summarily, as well as pandemic parties, led to constant cries of “liar”. Will he ever shed that mantle?

Perhaps Boris really believed his own publicity and that he could always defy challenges to him. His lack of self-awareness of his weaknesses perhaps too contributed to his downfall. His colleagues, it seems, finally found him lacking in propriety, competence and seriousness.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The media will occupy itself for a few days looking back, judging and making drama. They will enjoy a Conservative election process. But now is not the time to fester on misgivings of the past. For example, it would be good to see the idea of a public enquiry on the pandemic abandoned, as a complete waste of years of time, and of money, pure navel-gazing. The key lessons can surely be learnt by other means and quickly.

The resignation of Boris Johnson represents a real opportunity for the UK, by looking forward to making lives better. The Labour and other political parties will see a golden opportunity to call for a general election, to paint the Conservatives as broken and immoral, with no popular mandate with a new Prime Minister. They may also see that the departure of Johnson may mean the electorate will give a new Tory leader a chance: the Labour party may well seek to replace their own leader. The Conservatives have a real opportunity with new leadership to put past problems firmly in the past, to reaffirm integrity and deliver on promises, without the distraction of the Boris Johnson personality issues. However, the challenges of the global downturn, cost of living, energy, climate and war represent a mountain to climb. The Tories need to show an honest united front to the country. Are they capable of not obsessing with internal divisions and defeating themselves? Will new leadership talent emerge that can inspire and bring new confidence?

Assuming the new Tory leadership does not bin the election mandate, they can resist calls for a general election and use their majority to deliver results. Obviously in the UK the voters do not elect the country’s leader, the Prime Minister, unlike say France and the U.S.A. UK voters elect MPs who in turn elect their leader. That new leader has an opportunity to unite the Conservative party, bring a decency back to politics which has been missing, create stability and most important rally the country to work together and not just meet but overcome the challenges and adversity. Not easy, and so anybody who cares about the UK and its people, of whatever political hue, must hope that the new leader and their ministerial team have the values and the competence and commitment to succeed in this essential mission. As yet it is unknown whether such a person can be found within the ranks of the Conservative party.

There is far too much negativism and doom-mongering among media, economists, commentators and institutions. The future is the focus and the only way to succeed is through self-belief, optimism, hard work and perhaps an element of sacrifice not selfishness.