Johnson’s Retirement: An Unworthy End

Even in the last few days as party leader, Johnson has lacked decency. Even after the battle was lost, he still clung to power. Now he leaves behind a country in crisis.

What a sad spectacle. Boris Johnson clung to power and refused to step down long after it was clear that the battle was lost.

After numerous affairs, deceptions of parliament and lies, the populist Johnson is at the end. He agreed to resign before his fellow party members carried him out of the seat of government.

It’s an undignified ending, lacking the decency that Johnson lacked during the “Partygate” revelations. Perhaps there is even a lack of insight. Around 50 ministers, state secretaries and conservative politicians with important government positions have resigned. Loyal ministers spoke to him. And Johnson apparently couldn’t believe it – a Trump-like moment.

Brexit is affecting the country

What remains? Britain in crisis. The country is in economic recession, inflation is at an all-time high, and the cost of living is weighing on many people in the UK.

The country is not at all prepared for this situation. On the contrary: Brexit is affecting the country. It is now clear that leaving the EU internal market has caused trade to collapse, while the prime minister is still babbling about “world-leading”.

Humility and sincerity were never Johnson’s strengths, unfortunately he also lacked competence in economic and social policy decisions and somehow cheated his way through.

Unfulfilled promises

Another example: The NHS health system in Great Britain is in crisis, many people are waiting months or even years for important operations. When Johnson took office, he promised to build 40 new clinics. So far there have been just six extensions to existing hospitals, the head of the NHS said.

It is unfulfilled promises, the political culture, the populism with which the prime minister has run into a wall. “Get Brexit done” is the slogan with which he wanted to go down in the history books. Some in his party may also see it that way. But the dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol shows that he has not implemented Brexit – one of the most difficult questions is still unresolved. Here, too, Johnson believed he could somehow muddle through.

Desire for more sobriety

Is this the end of populism in Britain? Perhaps that expectation would be too great. But the desire to be governed in a more sober, less disruptive manner can even be scientifically proven. The Brits are fed up with a prime minister who, waving a flag, slides down a tightrope with his messy hair.

Let’s not kid ourselves: the successor will probably stick to the basic conservative course: a restrictive asylum policy, Brexit. But there is an opportunity for better economic policy and a partner with whom negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol may be easier to conduct. Boring politicians are sometimes not so bad.