How Boris Johnson made Jeremy Corbyn much less electable. (A short thread...)
Boris Johnson has been Prime Minister for 140 days. During that time, he has made Jeremy Corbyn significantly less electable.
Why? Much is made of the UK not having a presidential system.
Boris Johnson has been Prime Minister for 140 days. During that time, he has made Jeremy Corbyn significantly less electable.
Why? Much is made of the UK not having a presidential system.
That's as may be, but it certainly has a system that relies very strongly on precedent.
But in the last 140 days, we have seen time after time that a rogue Prime Minister can ride roughshod over Parliament by completely ignoring precedent-but-not-law.
But in the last 140 days, we have seen time after time that a rogue Prime Minister can ride roughshod over Parliament by completely ignoring precedent-but-not-law.
In other words, by refusing to follow centuries of precedent, Boris Johnson has demonstrated that being UK Prime Minister accords the office-holder more power than perhaps people had realised before.
Hence the failure to hold him to account even though Parliament voted to do so.
Hence the failure to hold him to account even though Parliament voted to do so.
Hence the Supreme Court battles to stop him side-lining Parliament completely.
There are many examples, if you take a moment to think about it.
But by making the role more presidential (i.e. dictatorial) Boris Johnson also made it harder for Jeremy Corbyn to gain power.
There are many examples, if you take a moment to think about it.
But by making the role more presidential (i.e. dictatorial) Boris Johnson also made it harder for Jeremy Corbyn to gain power.
Why?
Because rightly or wrongly (which is outside the scope of this thread) a large number of voters fear a Corbyn-led government. That fear has now been amplified by the prospect of him riding roughshod over Parliament, taking his cue from the example of Boris Johnson.
/ENDS
Because rightly or wrongly (which is outside the scope of this thread) a large number of voters fear a Corbyn-led government. That fear has now been amplified by the prospect of him riding roughshod over Parliament, taking his cue from the example of Boris Johnson.
/ENDS
