The Boris Johnson Odyssey: A Tale of Brexit, Buses, and Blunders
In the grand theatre of British politics, few characters have been as colourful, controversial, or confounding as Boris Johnson. From his Brexit bravado to his pandemic performance, Johnson’s political journey has been as unpredictable as a British summer.
First, let’s talk about Brexit. Johnson, the pied piper of the Leave campaign, promised a land of milk, honey, and sovereignty. Yet, the reality has been more akin to a diet of trade disruptions and Northern Ireland headaches. It seems the Brexit beast was not so easily tamed after all.
Then there’s the handling of the covid-19 pandemic. If there were Olympic medals for confusion, the British government would surely be on the podium. From dithering on lockdowns to the test-and-trace tangle, the response was as smooth as a hedgehog on a skateboard. And let’s not forget the tragic toll on human lives—a sombre testament to the cost of inaction.
Johnson’s personal conduct, meanwhile, has been a veritable soap opera. Affairs, offensive remarks, and a curious case of amnesia when it comes to parliamentary honesty. The Downing Street decor debacle was the cherry on top of a cake of controversy that would make even Marie Antoinette blush.
Public spending under Johnson’s watch has been as restrained as a child in a sweet shop. A costly Brexit bus here, an opulent flat refurbishment there, and let’s sprinkle in some questionable pandemic contracts for good measure. It seems the age of austerity is over, at least when it comes to the former PM’s whims.
And who can forget the Trump-Johnson bromance? Johnson’s chumminess with the divisive former U.S. President raised more than a few eyebrows. It was like watching a political version of “The Odd Couple,” only with nuclear codes.
The prorogation of Parliament saga was another low point. The Supreme Court’s ruling that the move was unlawful was a constitutional slap in the face. It was as if Johnson tried to play chess by making up his own rules, only to be told ‘Checkmate’ by the judiciary.
Finally, Johnson’s resignation as an MP following the revelation that he misled parliament was the political equivalent of a Shakespearean fall. A leader, once at the pinnacle of power, is undone by his own hubris and disregard for the rules of the game.
In the end, the Boris Johnson odyssey is a cautionary tale of ambition, power, and the perils of political miscalculation. It’s a story that continues to unfold, with the British public left to navigate the twists and turns of this most unpredictable of political journeys.
A short list of some of Johnson’s indisrections since supporting the Leave campaign and ultimately resigning as MP:
Leave campaign misleading claims: As a prominent figure in the Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum, Johnson was criticised for promoting the claim that the UK sends £350 million a week to the European Union, which was later shown to be misleading.
Dismissal of potential negative Brexit consequences: Many critics argue that Johnson downplayed or dismissed the potential negative economic and societal consequences of Brexit, both during the campaign and after the referendum.
Prorogation of Parliament in 2019: Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament in the lead-up to the Brexit deadline was highly controversial. The UK Supreme Court later ruled that the prorogation was unlawful, saying it had an “extreme” effect on the fundamentals of democracy.
Handling of the covid-19 pandemic: Johnson’s government faced criticism over its handling of the covid-19 pandemic. This includes delays in implementing lockdown measures, issues with the test and trace system, and allegations of a lack of transparency and mixed messaging.
Barnard Castle incident: Johnson was criticised for his handling of the situation surrounding his advisor Dominic Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle during a national lockdown. Critics argue that Johnson defended Cummings and failed to hold him to account.
Alleged Christmas party during covid restrictions: In late 2020, there were allegations of a Christmas party held at Downing Street that would have violated covid-19 restrictions in place at the time. Johnson denied that the event took place.
Controversial comments: Throughout his career, Johnson has made a number of controversial comments that have been deemed offensive or insensitive, leading to criticism about his suitability for leadership. Examples include comments about Muslim women, same-sex couples, and people of African descent.
Refurbishment of Downing Street flat: In 2021, there was controversy over who initially paid for the refurbishment of the Prime Minister’s flat at Downing Street. The Electoral Commission launched an investigation into the matter.
Public funds to Jennifer Arcuri (September 2019): The police watchdog looked into Johnson’s relationship with American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, who has claimed she had an affair with him while he was mayor of London. The IOPC found that while there was no basis for any criminal charges, Johnson should have declared an interest concerning Ms. Arcuri and that his failure to do so may have breached the London Assembly’s code of conduct.
Ignoring the report finding Priti Patel bullied staff: A formal investigation found evidence that Johnson’s home secretary, Priti Patel, had bullied staff in her department and breached the ministerial code. Johnson claimed he did not believe the code had been breached and had full confidence in his minister, leading his first ethics adviser, Sir Alex Allan, to quit in disgust.
Backing Dominic Cummings over lockdown breaches: When his key aide, Dominic Cummings, travelled hundreds of miles during lockdown, the prime minister went against public opinion and stuck by him.
Downing Street flat refurbishment (April 2021): Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds carried out a plush £112,000 refurbishment of the flat over No 11. It was alleged that Johnson tried to arrange for Tory donors to secretly pay for the revamp.
Supporting an MP who lobbied for businesses that paid him (November 2021): After the House of Commons Standards Committee found Tory MP Owen Paterson guilty of violating the rules against paid lobbying by MPs by promoting two businesses he worked for, Johnson backed him.
Fined for breaking lockdown laws (April 2022): Johnson approved an independent investigation into allegations that he and other officials held lockdown-breaking parties during periods when members of the public were under strict restrictions. For attending a party in Downing Street in May 2020 to celebrate his birthday, the police fined him £50.
Anti-corruption tsar resigns, saying PM broke ministerial code (June 2022): Tory MP John Penrose, who had served as the government’s anti-corruption champion since December 2017, resigned on June 6, accusing the prime minister of breaching the ministerial code by failing to provide adequate leadership over Partygate.
Disappearing Times Story (June 2022): Downing Street confirmed that members of Boris Johnson’s team intervened following the publication of a story about his wife Carrie in The Times. The story included allegations that Johnson tried to install Carrie in a Foreign Office job. It appeared in the first edition of The Times on 18 June but vanished from later copies, and a version also disappeared from the Mail Online.
