There are certain words and phrases in British politics that play a significant role – “populism,” “Brexit,” “legitimate concerns,” and the “red wall.” These terms will be used extensively in the coming weeks to explain how someone like Boris Johnson managed to become Prime Minister.
An ongoing effort to distance Johnson from his failures will soon reach its unfortunate conclusion. His shortcomings will be attributed to abstract circumstances that supposedly made his premiership inevitable. Like a monstrous being unleashed as an iceberg melts due to a warm weather front, Johnson arrived in Westminster to wreak havoc, until the British democratic norms and institutions finally took him down. Critics will lament the tragedy of Brexit, which propelled him to 10 Downing Street with a significant majority, but they will argue that he only has himself to blame for his downfall.
It is true, as Tory MP David Gauke stated, that Johnson is fundamentally unsuitable to be Prime Minister. However, he possesses certain qualities that, deep down in our national psyche, make him somewhat forgivable.
A popular pastime in the country is psychoanalyzing Boris Johnson, scrutinizing and dissecting him. He is depicted as a grotesque creature, laid out on a slab for examination. People wonder how this incredibly deceitful man managed to undermine the dignity of his position and “take us all for fools,” as even the Spectator, yes, the Spectator, remarked.
But rather than focusing on Johnson himself, we should direct our psychoanalysis toward a political culture that reveres public schoolboys, embraces the entitled confidence of unearned privilege, and admires an upper-class persona that treats serious matters with triviality. Johnson’s success lies in consciously leveraging these qualities, from his disheveled hair to shaking hands with everyone in a hospital ward during the early days of the pandemic, and assuring us that Brexit would be effortless. His ability to charm, rather than Britain’s fondness for an aristocratic class that dismisses the challenges of power, was the key to his triumph. This is seen as an example of the dangers of “populism.”
Certainly, the circumstances matter. Brexit, with its conflicting goals, complex border protocols, and challenges to the unity of the United Kingdom, required a leader who could rise above the intricate details, unlike Theresa May who became entangled in them. Johnson’s forceful approach to Brexit and his unlawful proroguing of parliament aligned perfectly with what he was elected for. However, this alone does not explain the enthusiasm with which large sections of the media welcomed the prospect of a Boris Johnson premiership.
The 2019 election brought a sense of excitement, described as “zing” and characterized by Johnson’s charisma and passion, as Matthew Parris wrote in the Times. The paper’s editorial acknowledged Johnson’s occasional dishonesty and preference for bluster over detail but argued that, unlike his opponent Jeremy Corbyn, Johnson’s faults were apparent. The underlying message was clear – he may be a liar, but he’s our liar. Even after a damning report on his lies and his departure from politics, the Daily Mail still gave him a column and handsome compensation. Johnson’s supporters expected an unfiltered account of his political downfall, but instead, he submitted a half-hearted column on diet medication. It seems that it’s not about the quality of Johnson’s output, but rather the style and flippant contempt he displays, which many people are still drawn to.
It wasn’t the red wall or Brexit alone that granted Johnson a platform in a national newspaper. It was an indulgence of the man and what he represents. Johnson embodies the useful spirit of a nihilistic Brexit that sought to concentrate power in the hands of right-wing interests rather than align with the “will of the people.” He acts as a shield against political institutions, civil service processes, and the rule of law that, if allowed to proceed, would challenge the core interests of certain right-wing media outlets. These outlets propagate fears of a shadowy cabal of woke progressives seeking to erase our values, history, and women, as Rishi Sunak put it. As long as Johnson remains in the game, he serves as a useful tool in this campaign.
And what about Rishi Sunak, who is seen as the mature prime minister we need? In 2022, he described Johnson as “one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met.” It’s hard to believe that it was only one specific lie about partying that finally revealed Johnson’s true nature. The leaked footage of Tories dancing and mocking Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 cannot be solely attributed to Johnson’s influence; it also reflects the personal beliefs of Conservative party officials and MPs.
This is not an attempt to assign blame, although there is plenty to go around. Instead, it is a plea for self-reflection to acknowledge how we allowed a well-known charlatan to occupy the highest office in the country and then blamed him for our decision. The current sense of unreality and triviality in British politics is not solely due to Brexit eroding seriousness and integrity. It stems from our constant attempts to explain away the structural weaknesses in our political culture, just as we did during the pandemic.
We are stuck with a system that indulges useless and morally bankrupt politicians as long as they do not threaten to reshape the economy or political culture in favor of those who need a robust public sector, affordable housing, fair income distribution, and compassion that upholds the internationally mandated human rights of refugees. If these politicians can maintain a heartless world with flair, it’s even better. But if they fail, we speed away from the wreckage, distracted by the superficial outrages that dominate our political life – peerages, controversial figures like Nadine Dorries, or extravagant indulgences like Sunak’s helicopters and heated swimming pool. Anything to divert our attention from the faults that, like Johnson’s, are plain to see. We keep moving forward, never looking back, hurtling toward the next disaster.
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