Is Boris Johnson Britain’s Trump? By Stephen Barber
Britain has a new Prime Minster in the distinctive shape of Boris Johnson. The former Mayor of London and Foreign Secretary is a familiar face who has morphed from a seemingly harmless figure of fun, a regular on popular TV shows, into a divisive political force. It was Boris who led the Brexit referendum campaign and it was Boris who disrupted Theresa May’s government, refusing to accept collective responsibility.
Adopting a populist pose, it’s difficult to ignore the comparisons with Donald Trump. Aside from the sense of entitlement and silly hair, these figures claim to speak for the people while enjoying backgrounds of great wealth, they are both accused of narcissism and selfishness, both averse to the details of policy preferring a broad and often inconsistent narrative, both having flexible relationships with the truth, both shooting from the hip.
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Boris has won the leadership on a policy promise which cannot be delivered. Brexit is the issue which Conservative party members care about most. And his pledge to leave on October 31 without a deal if necessary has cheered the Tory grassroots but angered MPs. Parliament has steadfast refused to be bypassed and it is clear there remains no appetite there for crashing out.
The appointment of prime minister Johnson does nothing to change the parliamentary arithmetic faced by May which meant her withdrawal deal was rejected three times. Indeed as Boris walks through the door of Number 10, several others have walked out, including Chancellor Phillip Hammond and Justice Secretary David Gauke. Mainstream Conservative MPs simply cannot support Boris and hold the line that a no deal Brexit is acceptable government policy. Several believe him unsuitable for high office.
This means there will be a handful more rebellious remainders on the back benches. Add to this the likelihood that the Conservatives will loose a by-election next week to the Liberal Democrats and the maths are even tighter not to mention political momentum.
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It is not a great start to a premiership and Boris will not enjoy the customary honeymoon afforded to most new PMs. With Parliament in deadlock and the country divided, another general election could come sooner rather than later.
Of course if Boris is like Trump his easy rhetoric, self-belief and ability to volte-face could see him through. But Boris doesn’t have the luxury of a presidency like Trump and can survive only at the pleasure of Parliament.
Stephen Barber is Assistant Dean for Programmes at Regent’s University London
