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It’s the beginning of the end for Boris

Viewpoint

Boris Johnson. Credit: PA

June 07 2022 11:00 AM

Secrets and lies can kill relationships. They eat away at the soul and leave only destruction in their wake. It may start with a little white lie, but the untruths snowball quickly, particularly when in the full glare of publicity.

The avalanche can only be avoided for so long. Eventually, the lies will sweep you, and all those people who ran alongside you, away.

Many Conservative MPs are now attempting to jump out of the firing line.

Two hundred and eleven of them remain behind the Prime Minister as he attempts to move past last night’s successful confidence vote.

No matter how good you are at hiding the secrets and lies, the truth will eventually lead to a downfall — and 148 of Boris Johnson MPs believe he is now at that point.

The Prime Minister became the pantomime villain of the Jubilee weekend, booed by the crowds outside St Paul’s Cathedral as he walked up the steps to attend a service of thanksgiving for the Queen.

Clearly, his unpopularity with sections of the public did not go unnoticed.

Many in the Conservative Party are currently sitting uncomfortably in their Westminster seats, particularly those in the so-called ‘red wall’ area.

Ahead of the vote, it was crystal clear that the public’s trust in the Prime Minister was falling. And once the trust of the nation vanishes, it can only be a matter of time before there is a parting of ways.

The distrust that was leaking through cracks in the hull is now gathering force.

The leaks about Downing Street parties at the height of Covid restrictions tilted the balance against the Prime Minister, and there are only so many fingers to plug the holes.

Once the ship starts listing, bringing it back under control becomes harder with each passing minute. Unlike ships, waves never get tired — they just keep coming.

The last time such a vote took place, in 2018, Theresa May survived on a 200 to 117 split. She lasted just six months. For many Prime Ministers, a vote of confidence is often no more than a stay of execution.

No longer will Boris Johnson echo ‘the unsinkable’ Molly Brown, who encouraged crew members from the Titanic to search for survivors. Instead, he’ll be more like Edward Smith, the captain of the doomed vessel, forced to decide between abandoning ship and going down with his crew.

So, Boris Johnson may limp on for now. But you can only let people down so many times before they decide you are not worth the bother.

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It’s the beginning of the end for Boris

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