Johnson at Tories Congress: One to whom nothing sticks

Fuel crisis, congestion, private scandals? The British Prime Minister continues to have a good laugh. Even at the Conservative Congress, hardly anyone criticizes Johnson – and some would like to be like him.

In Manchester these days it is like walking between two worlds. Outside there is a fuel crisis, there is discussion about the lack of truck drivers and demonstrating pig farmers hold up signs with the question: “Where have the butchers gone?”. Inside the convention center where the Conservatives hold their convention, these problems seem far away. Although more and more industries are currently complaining about a shortage of skilled workers and millions of Brits are feeling the concrete effects in everyday life, the Tories are conspicuously uncritical behind their prime minister.

Unreserved praise, such as Ed Pitt Ford from the constituency of London and Westminster, can be heard from many party members: “I think Boris Johnson is doing a very good job,” he says. “Nobody had to go through a pandemic before, and they started a vaccination program that got Britain back on track – and now we’re among the most progressive people in the G7.”

Opposition is working on him

Johnson is firmly in the saddle. Whether political crises or personal affairs, nothing sticks to him. For that matter, Johnson is a phenomenon, he’s a Teflon-grade premier. The list of misconduct and incidents that made headlines is long. From failed projects to women’s stories to racist statements, the spread of untruths and “Wallpapergate”.

Opposition leader Keir Starmer regularly works on Johnson, but most of the time there is nothing more than an exchange of blows in parliament. “Wallpapergate” was about the luxury renovation of Johnson’s office in Downing Street and allegations that he had broken the code of conduct for the financing.

Omit, distract, counterattacks

In moments like these, Johnson either only responds selectively and leaves the decisive points open – or he claims that the subject is of no interest to the citizens and consistently talks about something else. Or he goes into the attack, which is known to be the best defense.

Attack and change of subject can be combined, as in this case: When asked who originally paid the bill for the luxury renovation, Johnson attacked Starmer in connection with the European Medicines Agency.

Johnson’s eloquence is also significant when it comes to the Prime Minister’s Teflon effect. Because he can also work rhetorically to ensure that everything appears void and drips off him. The fact that the questionable things that he allows himself do him so little harm is also due to the fact that there have already been so many of them. That may sound strange, but it’s true. The voters get used to something that, in case of doubt, only leads to a smile or a shrug of the shoulders: “That’s just the way Boris is.”

The fact that the British call the premier by his first name also matters. The prime minister scores with his supposedly chum-like manner. Party member Zoe, who does not want to give her first name, describes it this way: “People have the feeling that they are more closely connected with Boris because he seems to be more like them than the traditional politicians; because Boris is different. ”

Ed from Liverpool, also a big fan of Johnson, believes Johnson will be forgiven for being authentic: “He comes across as real. And that’s right, he doesn’t pretend. I think voters can see that he’s not pretending to be anything other than Boris. “

He can get carried away and make you laugh

In the 2019 election campaign it was said that many voters could identify with Johnson, precisely because he is not always correct, something turns around or lies. Secretly, his followers would wish to be like him. Without a doubt, what basically benefits Johnson is his wit and charisma. It can get carried away and make people laugh – that catches the eye.

He doesn’t care that Johnson’s critics call him a clown and deny him the stature for the office of prime minister is yes already premier. And as weak as Labor is currently presenting itself, Johnson is likely to remain so for a long time – especially since he has Teflon qualities.