The UK Conservative party has been a subject of controversy since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July of 2019. Despite the Conservative party’s lack of popularity with the youth and multiple substantiated claims that they intended to sell the NHS, they actually won the election with a big majority and thus almost absolute political power. They were so secure that they even held a majority in a lot of the north of the UK, which has almost exclusively voted labour throughout UK political history. However, despite their early electoral glory, it has been a downward spiral from there; recent rumours indicate that Conservative leader Boris Johnson may be replaced soon. So why has the party fallen from grace and what is in its future? Keep reading to find out.
(The Conservative Party Logo – Source: https://assets.lbc.co.uk/2016/29/conservatives-logo---lbc-1468834487-editorial-long-form-0.jpg)
A recent BBC News report stated that all the Conservative party’s sub-factions are unhappy with Boris’s recent decisions and are considering finding a replacement party leader if he doesn’t sharpen up his act. One government official was quoted saying that: “Mr Johnson behaves as if he’s exempt from following the rules.” While another stated that: “Downing St has become a theme park of soft decision-making and avoidance.” In short, Downing St wants Boris to stop breaking his own Covid regulations, take back control of the party and make tougher decisions, but where have these criticisms come from?
Well, the party and the prime minister have been caught in many scandals and criticisms since the coronavirus pandemic first came to be; however, recently public and parliamentary opinion is reaching a tipping point, and pressure continues to mount. The most recent offence is number 10 Downing St hosting Christmas parties during the 2020 Christmas lockdown. This exposure of the government breaching their own regulations has already led to Conservative members of parliament apologising and resigning, including Allegra Stratton who was recorded at one of these parties. Johnson has claimed not to have been at these parties or aware of their happening but for many, it is hard to believe that the prime minister would not at least be aware that there was a party in his property. Consequently, many people are angry at Mr Johnson for not shutting it down.
(Number 10 Downing Street – Source: https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/number-ten-cat-picture-id578557650?k=6&m=578557650&s=612x612&w=0&h=NgJcTVIPmsDPiACoUoB9FUxtwf5KYLMGFoDdyjZx4qM=)
Retrospectively, the government also failed to get NHS personnel sufficient PPE at the start of the pandemic and Johnson’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings broke lockdown restrictions by travelling 260 miles to a family home in 2020. Matt Hancock was also caught having an affair in a government building and was accused of giving medical contracts to his industry friends over their competitors regardless of if they were the best suited for them. Hancock was later dismissed from his position. There are more examples of Conservative sleaze all over the internet and when high profile government figures are being axed for misbehaving in this way it’s unsurprising people are losing faith in the government and the government is losing faith in Johnson to keep control. Apparently, the prime minister has even been nicknamed ‘trolley’ by his colleagues due to his ability to veer off course. So with a reputation and backlog of offences as dubious as these, how has Johnson evaded the consequences for so long?
First and foremost, it’s believed that Johnson has a unique list of tricks to avoid answering difficult questions. BBC News wrote that Johnson seems to use a lot of complicated jargon that will suggest agreement but not commit to a position. This way he can always change his stance later and avoid being caught out in interviews and debates. An insider told the BBC that he will try to leave people with the impression he has told them one thing, but he will have left himself space to manoeuvre in the future on the topic in question. Another source told them that he is “extremely shrewd and calculating” and hides these traits “under the costume of a performer”. These comments are certainly substantiated by the past; some readers may remember several jingoistic catchphrases Mr Johnson has employed to appeal to the public like “Get Brexit done!”. Furthermore, you don’t get as far as he has in Westminster without being intelligent and conniving when necessary…
(Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the UK – Source:https://www.hellofaread.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/NINTCHDBPICT000542205321-e1574545322359-1.jpg)
Perhaps Boris Johnson is a symptom of the times; Johnson is deeply politically polarising as are political parties and debates in recent years. It seems people either love him or hate him. The same way that people were either leave or remain, tory or labour, and right or left. Sometimes it feels like politics has become the yes or no section on a questionnaire and the same rules seem to apply to Mr Johnson and, unfortunately for him, an increasing number of politicians and members of the public seem to be moving to no. He has simply pushed both too far.
The coming months are going to be very politically interesting. The PM will no doubt try to keep his head down until heat from the public dies down. This would allow him to avoid fighting a war on two fronts. The PM is also likely to try and make subtle political movements, like moderate legislation changes, to appease the various Tory tribes whilst not sparking public outrage. He will have to keep a delicate balance until things cool down. I believe this mentality is reflected in his choice to keep Covid regulations the same over the New year transition period. I believe this is to appease the public. The Conservative party as a whole is going to, first of all, have to pray that no more controversies are unearthed until the public calms down. Westminster is also likely to become a bit of a “revolving door” as MPs are replaced to appease the angry public in a similar manner to Allegra Stratton. Any claim about the future would be circumstantial but going forward I believe we will be seeing MP changes at the least. The government needs to restore credibility, and they are running out of ways to do this. The question seems to have become not if heads will roll but rather which heads will roll.
After all, if the government doesn’t treat the government with respect, why should the public?
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