Boris Johnson's Turmoil: The End of Political Brazenness

Adam Taylor and Sammy Westfall wrote an article in The Washington Post on 7-7-2022 about the governmental crisis in Britain. The article describes Prime Minister Boris Johnson as "lacking shame"... not knowing shame!.. and that he is "a living example of political brazenness in action"......! The article described this trait as "the superpower of Boris Johnson's personality, the British prime minister".. while accusations of cronyism, corruption, incompetence and treachery fell away alongside his meteoric political rise... like "water off a duck's back"..!

But while British Conservatives were once happy with his ability to get away with anything, many of his critics have thrown him out, and "Johnson's brazenness has now become a major problem for them; Johnson may feel no embarrassment, but his colleagues have been indirectly affected by it." And as they try to force him from office, it may result in the first British prime minister to fall not because of personal shame but because of collective discomfort and embarrassment.

The article notes that after Johnson won a decisive parliamentary majority in 2019, he was hit by scandal after scandal. There was an early catastrophic response by Britain to the pandemic, which included the prime minister himself nearly dying from Covid-19. Then there were accusations of favoritism and corruption, including suspicious dealings with Russian oligarchs, and the redecorating of Downing Street at the expense of wealthy donors.

"PartyGate," the catchy name attached to a circulating scandal about pandemic parties that broke rules in Downing Street, earned him the dubious distinction of being the first British prime minister accused of committing an offense while in office. And although he became prime minister in 2019 after pledging to "get Brexit done," his government remains mired in details, even threatening to withdraw from its own Northern Ireland protocol.

There are many other scandals to list. However, the person who seems to have turned his government against him is a stark example of political brazenness in action. It centers on whether the prime minister was aware of the allegations against Chris Pincher, the Conservative MP who recently resigned his post... after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Downing Street initially said the prime minister was not aware of the previous allegations when he promoted him. It was soon forced to backtrack and acknowledge that Johnson had in fact been informed. On Tuesday evening, two formerly loyal senior politicians — Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid — resigned from his government. Within 24 hours, dozens followed. The number of resignations reached about 50 ministers and government officials by this morning...!

On Wednesday, Johnson pointed to the historic scale of his 2019 electoral victory as a justification for ignoring everything else. He said in Parliament: "Frankly, the job of prime minister in difficult circumstances when you are given an enormous mandate is to carry on, and that is what I will do."

Johnson survived a no-confidence vote within his party only last month, but the size of the vote against him led many to suggest he should resign anyway, and he refused to resign at that time.. given the economic conditions Britain is going through.. where there is a shortage of food.. rising inflation rates and rising prices.. as a result of economic sanctions on Russia for which Britain played a consistently provocative role in confronting Russia in its war on Ukraine (according to his claim).. He says.. he has a lot of work to do.. under these conditions...!

But if the relentless pace of scandals had not exhausted the prime minister, it had exhausted his allies. They realized that his reputation tarnishes them, not the other way around. Javid wrote in his resignation letter about the Conservative Party: "Perhaps we were not always popular, but we were competent to work for the national interest." "Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, the public concludes that we are not now."

The speed and scale of resignations from Johnson's government over the past twenty-four hours resemble nothing in modern British political history. As this chart from the Institute for Government shows, the beleaguered post-Brexit premiership is the only one that reveals any comparison. (The number of resignations continued to rise).

And public sentiment has clearly swung as well. A YouGov poll on Wednesday showed that more than two-thirds of Britons (69%) believe Johnson should resign, including a majority of Conservative voters and those who voted to leave the European Union — Johnson's base.

It is worth noting that the loyalty of ministers and government officials is to Britain... not to the prime minister... even if they are from the same party...(the Conservatives), and observe the move of all parties in the British Parliament.. united.. given what Johnson's political brazenness has caused in negative outcomes for British society and the British economy and Britain's standing in the world... in the fall of the pound sterling against the dollar... which will exacerbate the situation... and his brazenness in inciting war against Russia will not be forgiven. Attempting to follow the United States, or even continually reminding the United States to move forward to try to crush Russia, to arm Ukraine... and stand with it and threaten Russia from nearby... prolongs the war, and distances Ukraine from the idea of negotiating with Russia.. which exposes the world to several crises.. difficult to overcome.. in the near term.. such as energy, food and threats to international security and peace...

Boris Johnson will leave.. now while I am writing this article.. (he announced that he will step down). He preferred the interest of Britain and the wishes of the British people, and the interest of the Conservative Party... over his stubbornness and clinging to the chair.. and his arrogance... and his contempt for norms, the general rules that govern public service in Britain.......after there was no longer room for him.. to escape forward....! Let us see what effect this will have on the balance of the European position and the position of the United States on Western boycott measures.... and the war between Russia and Ukraine and the global economy...

Thus peoples cement their protection of the constitution and democracy in their countries.. because no one, no matter his position and entourage, rises above and runs wild... above the interest of that country...! A lesson for every tyrant and despot.. in any country...! I say that, despite Britain's criminal record against Palestine and the Arab world.. and many other countries… in the world.. it is indeed the greatest engine of evil in the world..!

· Wishing you every year in better condition.... Blessed Eid al-Adha