Compromising photographs, sado-masochism, prostitutes, tax dodging - it must be a Tory leadership contest
What’s crucial for writers who have followed Boris Johnson’s story for so long is understanding that the sun does not rise and set on a single character like him.
This page, for example, has never been tied to one post for too long or been ‘too’ one-dimensional.
Life goes on beyond Boris Johnson and politics continues - those who ask [derisively] what this page will do next likely fell into this ‘personality’/’image politics’ trap of thinking that somehow Boris Johnson was consequential, or that his leadership provided an epoch moment in British politics.
It didn’t.
He’s just another politican, and therefore insignificant.
That said, on Sunday, more stories emerged of Boris Johnson’s conduct [or misconduct] in office that have about as much power to disgust as they always have, and in an attempt to push Boris Johnson out faster, Labour are calling on MI5 for a ‘damage assessment’ into the Prime Minister’s relationship with Alexander Lebedev, in addition to tabling of a vote of no confidence - provided they can sort the leaking roof out that caused Monday’s sitting in the Commons to be delayed.
[NB: There’s a metaphor in there somewhere]
At this moment in time, however, there is a sense that any new story that emerges regarding Boris Johnson is rather like Mortal Kombat insofar as it’s left up to individuals to decide after they’ve defeated their opponent whether to show them mercy in the form of a relatively peaceful death or alternately ‘Finish Him’ with some incredibly creative yet brutal and violent coup de grace final move that usually involves fire or the removal of several limbs.
The Independent, for example, detailed a leaked invoice that itemised the bill for Boris Johnson’s flat refurbishment in 2021 - to the tune of £200,000, including a £3,675 drinks trolley and a £500 tablet cloth.
The Mirror, too, went with the story of how Boris Johnson and wife Carrie intended to throw a lavish wedding party at the grace and favour mansion of Chequers at the end of this month. It was subsequently cancelled following criticism.
Indeed, both The Times and the Mail on Sunday validated my previous article when they pursued the story that Johnson would ‘make a killing’ when he finally left Downing St to earn tens of millions of pounds from book sales and after-dinner speeches.
That’s likely his ‘Animal House’/where are they now ending and a further indication that there is no justice for some people, it seems.
But the most brutal story [and by all accounts the ‘violent coup de grace final move that usually involves fire or the removal of several limbs’] was this from the Sunday Times:
Ultimately though, it’s worth remembering that the stupidity [and injustice] doesn’t stop with him - it’s symptomatic of a party where scandal had become commonplace.
It will go on - “a wretched hive of scum and villainy” indeed.
That’s why - if or when an individual asks the question about what this page is going to do after Boris Johnson finally leaves, it’s very easy to say - “well, carry on; obviously.”
The term ‘Zombie Government’ has been used on this page a number of times, so it’s appropriate to say that even after The Governor was killed in The Walking Dead, Negan eventually showed up a bit later on in the franchise.
With a baseball bat.
Which leads neatly to how the Tory leadership contest is shaping up.