Thread by @althecat

4th 7/7 #ResignationGate Thread…

After @BorisJohnson's resignation there were smiles all around. @BethRigby even eulogised him. His concession to "Political Gravity" was welcomed - but its not clear that everyone understands the full implications of that gravity.

https://twitter.com/althecat/status/1545001796615213056

@BorisJohnson @BethRigby For starters @BorisJohnson was far from contrite, no apology, no mention of why he was booted. Instead he criticised his caucus, accusing them of succumbing to "herd" instinct.

@BorisJohnson @BethRigby We are now being told by worthies that there is no provision in the @Conservatives Constitution for caretakers - even though this idea seemed to be top of mind hours earlier.

We do have a timetable for his replacement now, and it is not short, at least seven weeks. Two weeks for the caucus to narrow the list to 2 candidates - then five weeks of hustings with the membership.

Whilst this is mercilessly short by some measures. For five of those weeks the Govt. will be operating absent a sitting Parliament, with a cabinet entirely picked by Johnson himself, during a time of war.

In the meantime the Govt. is continuing to proceed with policies which are very controversial, e.g. implementation on the ban on protests, the export of asylum seekers and the Northern Ireland Protocol bill/impasse with Europe. Not to mention the war in Ukraine.

There is in the above ^^ a lot of space for mischief and damage to UK interests. Add in the complete absence of contrition, acts of revenge (sacking Gove), and his apparently unilateral decision to commence appointing a new Govt - and to declare the terms of his own departure.

This is not a former leader who is leaving quietly, he didn't even say that he would be "serving" (his word) in a caretaker role. Nor did he use the word resign in any form.

None of these things indicate that he has really accepted that he is leaving. And this is also a man who we know is a serial liar. His mention of the fact that the security force at Downing St is "one force that never leaks" could almost be read as a threat or an instruction.

In summary, @BorisJohnson is wholly untrustworthy.

Which brings us back to the #PoliticalGravity question.

A sizeable portion of the public do not trust him. Only 13% think he is trustworthy. Only 23% think he is competent.

How will the public respond if - as seems likely - @BorisJohnson continues to conduct himself in the position of Prime Minister as he has done before:

I.E. Polarising the public at every opportunity?

Only now with nothing less to lose.

While I am not a member of the @Conservatives, if I were, I would be deeply concerned about @BorisJohnson using his remaining seven weeks of power - including five weeks during which he will have no parliamentary supervision.

We should also recall at this point that immediately after assuming office back in 2019, he proceeded to prorogue Parliament in a manner that was subsequently declared illegal.

Also, I would encourage people to watch all of his appearance before the Liason Committee. During that hearing he had flashes of obvious anger.

Boris likes to portray himself as a likeable rogue, but it is clear now, clearer than ever, that in reality he is dangerous bully.

And just in.

It appears that Sir John Major is of a similar view.

https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1545034005707476993?s=20&t=NZ7Y1OSPooJ1H12sGB9gUA

/ends

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