There is an interesting argument that populist right-wing governments, led by likes of Trump and Johnson, are no longer seriously interested in public policy that improves the well-being of society. Their politics is instead performative. They sustain themselves through...
rhetoric that is emotionally charged and which capitalises on attitudinal fault lines in society. It can certainly help to explain the seemingly irrational impulses of such politicians. They simply have to amplify prejudices shared by a significant segment of society to win...
elections. The problem is once setting along that path the stakes have to be repeatedly raised, like a junkie who requires ever bigger shots to get the same high. The ultimate metaphor for where it leads is Hitler's bunker in 1945, with German society collapsing all around him.
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Resumè of character- defining elements of Johnson's CV:
- juvenile behaviour of worst kind as undergraduate member of Bullingdon Club;
- sacked twice for telling lies to employers;
- had affair whilst a former wife suffered most distressing of circumstances;
- wasted...
billions of taxpayer money on useless vanity projects;
- misappropriation of public funds in pursuit of yet another mistress;
- along with Farage, did more than any other politician to divide and polarise country;
- failure to keep promises made in 2019 election;
- repeatedly...
told lies in Commons in breach of ministerial code;
- financed lavish life style through personal donations, creating conflicts of interest;
- given credence to far-right conspiracy theories;
- offended vulnerable groups in society, most recently child abuse victims;
- during...
Some disappointment that Labour, as main Opposition Party, not overtaken Johnson in polls despite a calamitous performance. Perspective necessary.
Starting from a low ebb in the 2019 general election, Labour has roughly halved Johnson's lead. If the comparison is with the...
20 plus point lead he had at start of public health crisis in spring, movement of opinion is more marked.
As for personal ratings, Starmer has quickly achieved favourable results relative to Johnson on most of leadership criteria used in polls.
Delving into small print...
some polling experts have concluded that, were there an election now, Johnson would struggle to secure a majority, only 7 months into a new Parliament.
Johnson's political foundations are therefore cracking more than may appear to be the case on the surface. He is much more...