| The Times 09:06 - Sep 18 with 178 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
The Times view on the prime minister’s suitability for No 10: Johnson Adrift
Boris Johnson urgently needs to strengthen his cabinet and Downing Street operation to address growing doubts about whether he is up to the job
It is a mark of the trouble in which the government finds itself that even Boris Johnson’s erstwhile supporters are starting to question whether he is the right person to be in No 10. The cover of this week’s Spectator, the magazine Mr Johnson once edited, asks “Where’s Boris?” above an illustration that shows the prime minister adrift in an angry sea. His backbenchers are increasingly despairing of a government that, after a summer of U-turns, finds itself caught up in two crises largely of its own making. The test and trace system that Mr Johnson had proclaimed a few months ago to be world-beating is in chaos. And the government’s decision to push ahead with the Internal Market Bill, which breaks international law, has turned into a fiasco that has united former prime ministers, party grandees, opposition parties and international allies in condemnation.
Mr Johnson must carry much of the blame for the predicament in which he now finds himself. No one doubts that he has been dealt a very difficult hand, not least with the coronavirus crisis, and he has played it badly. Too often the government has over-promised and under-delivered on the testing programme, the tracking app, schools reopening and others besides. Indeed, these problems have been compounded by his tendency towards boosterism. Talk of creating a world-beating test and trace system, or plans to spend tens of billions of pounds on the “moonshot” of a mass coronavirus testing programme, are no doubt designed to raise the morale of a country in need of cheering up. But when expectations are not met and targets are missed, such faux optimism only undermines confidence and raises doubts about the government’s competence.
Some of Mr Johnson’s difficulties arise from his tendency to duck difficult choices, whether out of a desire to please or, as he once put it, to have his cake and eat it. This has frustrated colleagues who wonder where the government stands on crucial issues. Is his policy to suppress the virus or to slow its spread? Is he on the side of libertarians or those who advocate strict lockdowns? Is he a fiscal conservative or an enthusiast for debt-fuelled spending? It is telling that even on the issue at the heart of the EU trade talks, the question of state aid, the government still cannot say what its domestic policy will be a few months before the end of the transition period. This contributes to a sense of drift.
An even bigger problem is that even when the government has taken a position, too often it does not appear to have thought it through. Policies have had to be swiftly abandoned after the exposure of entirely predictable problems. The most spectacular reversal was over exam results, but others have included the tracking app, free school meals in the summer holidays and visa charge waivers for foreign NHS workers. Furthermore it is astonishing that it did not anticipate the consequences of its decision to breach international law in relation to the Brexit withdrawal act, prompting this week’s retreats.
Part of this may reflect Mr Johnson’s notorious inattention to detail, an unfortunate weakness in a prime minister. It also reflects his decision to pack his cabinet and Downing Street operation with inexperienced lightweights chosen for their loyalty to him and to Brexit rather than their competence. If Mr Johnson had a justice secretary, attorney-general or several other “tall poppies”, the damage to Britain’s standing caused by the Internal Market Bill might have been averted. When he was mayor of London, he was able to overcome a disastrous start by appointing competent deputies who were able to steady the ship. At a time of grave crisis for the country, the prime minister needs to do the same again now before the public come to a settled and unflattering view about his ability to do the job.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-the-prime-ministers-suitabi | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| The Times on 09:28 - Sep 18 with 171 views | spudgun |
Agree with every single word, and the last paragraph in particular. Excellent piece.
He is the emperor without a stitch of clothing surrounded by braying flunkies claiming otherwise. The same ones you wouldn`t entrust with the job of being milk monitors.
But everyone with any intelligence knew Johnson wasn`t suitable PM material.
But the Tory grandees knew he could win an election, as he`s very good at that.
I wonder if some are regretting it now?
Probably not... | | | |
| The Times on 09:57 - Sep 18 with 168 views | spell_chekker |
I don't know where it's positioned but I would've imagined that the Times was pretty hard right and therefore back a tory government to the hilt. | |
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| The Times on 10:06 - Sep 18 with 165 views | spudgun |
Yep, the Times is right leaning, but I don`t know whether this was an editorial or an opinion piece. I used to read the Sunday Times quite happily and it was reasonably objective for the most part.
Even the Telegraph (which is staunchly right-wing) has become very critical of the government of late. Can`t comment on the Sun!
Even the Tory grandees will know they have a dud PM and government.
Johnson will probably not serve a full term... | | | |
| The Times on 10:31 - Sep 18 with 161 views | spell_chekker |
Oh dear.
It's looking bleak for Boris if even his own side are coming out against him. | |
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| The Times on 10:35 - Sep 18 with 161 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
It's an editorial article.
The Mail has been critical of Bojo for a few weeks now. Supportive of Gove, which is no surprise as his wife writes for them. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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