Why is it so shocking for people to discover that the man behind Boris Johnson is actually… Boris Johnson?
The interesting thing about Ed Davey's previous photo-op featuring him smashing a polystyrene blue wall with a yellow/orange hammer after the seismic victory in Chesham & Amersham was - for those in the joinery or glazing trade - that he was using a dead blow hammer.
Dead blow hammers are typically used to perform strikes on areas without damaging the surface or surrounding areas, while causing maximum impact.
It appears somehow a good metaphor - or does it? Should Ed Davey have used a yellow/orange lump hammer instead?
We will never know since the leader of the Liberal Democrats is in self-isolation and as coronavirus - once again - rips through the United Kingdom, which serves - yet again, it seems - as the 'world-beating' epicentre of 'Covid handling bad takes'.
The result in the North Shropshire by-election is once again seismic - the "second strike" according to veteran Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale, to Boris Johnson's premiership.
Optimistically. Ambitiously.
It begs the question that if the Conservatives cannot get away with having another ill-advised, restriction-breaking Christmas Party - or even Spring ‘Pizza party’, as revealed lately as having happened in May last year - perhaps on this rare occasion, the rules might stipulate Johnson could at least get away with a wake.
The words of Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale are interesting, though.
One because it discounts the result in Batley & Spen which, although not a Conservative loss, should have been perceived as an easy-win situation for the Conservatives - it wasn't. They lost; however narrow the margin.
He is also discounting results from council elections in constituencies belonging to prominent Conservatives - places like Esher & Walton, for example. Dominic Raab's constituency.
Those most fearful at this stage, however, are individuals in other ‘Blue Wall’ constituencies; like page favourite idiot, Wycombe's Steve Baker MP.
Statistically, according to BBCs Peter Barnes, it stretches far beyond ‘Blue Wall’ MPs, however.
This is where the concern over Boris Johnson being considered an "electoral asset" becomes paramount to the debate on the future of the Conservatives.
Existentially, at least, and contrary to the Express reports that state he’s “still a winner.”
Why concerned?
Everything discussed across this page, frankly.
And where Conservative MP Mark Harper remains optimistic that Boris Johnson can somehow "change"…
…rather sounds like some in denial lover or former wife of the Prime Minister that eventually got sick of him when she realised that this was an impossible task.
Or "selfish bastard" according to the Prime Minister's own daughter Lara.
The Prime Minister will not change; demonstrably, as we see with the rise in cases of the Omicron variant of Covid, a lack in support for businesses, mixed messaging when it comes to restrictions and an inability to simply 'do the right thing', we're once again in an epidemiological groundhog day turning towards an indecisive Prime Minister for 'the answer' only to discover that he simply does not know what to do - and the best he can offer is a speech about Peppa Pig.
And visibly, has no control over his anti-science, pro-death backbenchers - such as Joy Morrissey MP who recently deleted this tweet that can only be described as modern art, frankly.
Once again this page draws on an exchange between the Prime Minister and former head mandarin Sir Mark Sedwill from the Spring of 2020:
It seems like it's only a question of time for the Prime Minister - and with 'Plan C' restrictions on the table being discussed, schools actively defying the Government in the run-up to Christmas, health professionals - including Sir Christ Whitty - angry, 'No Confidence' is being whispered in deafening silence.
What the Prime Minister has on his hands is time - and Christmas recess.
But with even this hanging in the balance [on the urgences of Conservatives who would likely implore the Prime Minister to come back to speak with them before any 'Plan C' is implemented], it appears Boris Johnson can't don his fetching, flowery, red Bermuda shorts and head off to Mustique quite yet.
As much as he would probably relish the possibility.
Although already ahead of the Prime Minister was page nemesis Rishi Sunak, who decided to emulate Hans Gruber - among the chaos in the hospitality sector - and felt that he was better suited taking a trip to California; fabulously trolled by the Twitter feed of airline Ryanair.
Staying at home, though, was Liz Truss - long-suspected as being a candidate to replace Boris Johnson and frequently at the top of Conservative members' polls as their favourite MP - updating Twitter with what appeared like a trailer for her upcoming alternative Christmas message from Sandringham.
The Christmas message from Liz Truss would be to an audience of one; privately viewed, presumably via Zoom and without the contention of being broadcast to a room full of No. 10 staffers taking part in a quiz with team names such as 'Professor Quiz Whitty' and 'Cheeses of Nazareth.'
It would be for Boris Johnson alone.
A threat, more than anything, backed up by more than one MP, backing 'Liz for Leader'.
Quite what Sir Roger Gale might perceive as being a 'third strike' for Boris Johnson, I've no idea, but judging by the appointment of very respected Baroness Heather Hallett as chair of the belated Covid Inquiry next year, it seems, as noted by this page, Johnson might be unconcerned anyway.
What will it take for others who are saying that he’ll be gone within a year unless he cleans up his act? Are they, like Harper, expecting him to “change”?
Will the 'Third strike' be the outcome of Lord Geidt's decision on whether to re-investigate or resign over the No. 11 flat refurbishments?
Was it not a 'Third strike' when they saw new Conservative MPs elected, as Louie French was in Old Bexley & Sidcup, only to have the MP subsequently vote against Boris Johnson when given his first opportunity to vote in Parliament alongside over 100 others remarkably voting against public health measures?
Will Conservatives wait for Spring 2022, as inflation spirals and ‘Red Wall’ Conservative voters come knocking on the door asking for the better lives that Johnson guaranteed?
For Gale and other Conservatives, the 'Third strike' might have been the outcome of Simon Case's investigation into the Downing St. Christmas parties from 2020.
But then this became unlikely, in spite of “due diligence”, after the investigation - which was set to “vindicate” Boris Johnson - by Simon Case has been thrown under a bus following reports that Case actually attended a drink’s party of his own.
Held in the Cabinet Office, the party is said to have begun at 5:30 pm on December 17 2020 and was even listed in digital calendar invitations as “Christmas party!”
Following the revelations, Case stood aside. Or was “sacked” depending on who you ask in Whitehall. In any ‘case’, this may be the final insult - the last great omnishambles before Johnson kicks the proverbial [and ministerial] bucket.
Or will Conservatives wait to see another drubbing at another Tory safe seat held by the Conservatives since Victorian times before they get the message that Boris Johnson is a liability rather than a viability?
The voters of North Shropshire have decided that he is, at least - that Johnson has out-stayed his welcome. I think many would be happy if Johnson simply just packed and left; not with a bang but a whimper, eh 1922 Committee?
Who cares anyway, it's for the Conservatives to figure that one out. Although they might not have an easy answer.
Either the reason they won’t dispose of Johnson this second is because they’re naive in believing he might change [note: he won’t] or it’s more simple than that.
Maybe the only reason they’d keep him is because the Conservatives know that there is simply nobody else.