I TRULY never thought I’d see the day, but readers it has happened. The Daily Mail has finally lost patience with Boris Johnson.
It’s quite impressive that he has managed to provoke its ire when he hasn’t appeared in public for so long. But then, that’s precisely why it is so incensed. The right-wing paper was solidly pro-Boris back when he was merely a duplicitous, offensive, arrogant arsehole. Now he’s shown – again – that he’s all of those things but with the added bonus of also being incredibly lazy, the Mail has had enough.
As the exams fiasco rumbles on and new daily cases of coronavirus continue to rise, the Prime Minister has decided to go away on holiday. Yes, again. Remarkably, Boris Johnson has made no public comment about the A-levels shambles or English Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s mismanagement of it.
In response to this latest responsibility dodging from our part-time Prime Minister, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “Instead of heeding warnings and addressing this looming crisis before it was too late, the Prime Minister has been invisible. Parents, young people and teachers deserve a public apology from the Prime Minister and a plan for how he will get a grip of his Government.”
Boris Johnson’s destination of choice is a remote three-bedroom cottage in Scotland. It is an interesting pick for the Prime Minister. With a recent poll showing a decisive, (if we’re applying the 2014 standard) 55% support for independence, Unionists are panicking. When it comes to Johnson, they face a dilemma. Do they want him to be more pro-active on Scotland? Is it worth trying to turn the tide on his negative approval ratings?
If they want to change the perception – which has solidified during the crisis – that Johnson looks more like a prime minister of England than the UK, then they need him out front and centre.
It’s a risky strategy. When Boris Johnson shows his face he often shows himself up. I’m sure the views from his holiday cottage are breathtaking but the real allure will be that he doesn’t run the risk of coming into contact with any real-life Scottish people.
In principle, I don’t actually mind Boris Johnson taking some time off. He ended up in intensive care when he caught the virus and he has recently welcomed his sixth or seventh child into the world. If we are being charitable, then we can acknowledge that he is probably tired and in need of a break.
Being a leader during a time of crisis must be bloody exhausting. But that’s what he signed up for. It’s not as if the job was thrust upon him. He isn’t the designated survivor. Boris Johnson has spent decades clambering up the greasy pole, stomping on the heads of his friends and colleagues to reach the top.
Where some politicians are motivated by the things they want to do in office and the change they want to see, Johnson has only ever cared about himself. He has all the power he ever wanted and is too much of a slacker to do anything meaningful with it.
That Boris Johnson has chosen to take a holiday in the middle of a pandemic has angered not only
The Daily Mail – who, let’s be fair, get angry at pretty much everything – but ordinary members of the public, too. No wonder people are annoyed. Boris Johnson has hidden away during the crisis. He is only willing to face journalists when he has good news to announce.
Now he’s having MORE time off from his time off.
Some fear the virus will run out of control again as winter nears. I wouldn’t be surprised if Boris Johnson has pre-booked a skiing holiday just in case.
There’s also a stunning double-standard at play here. Certain Scottish Tory MSPs have been very alert to any hint that Nicola Sturgeon might be having some downtime from her duties. They have been quick to criticise her for – among other things – tweeting a book recommendation and mentioning that she watched a film on Disney+.
The laziness! The outrage!
She should be sleeping under the daily briefing podium and doing live TV interviews while eating her cornflakes.
As ever with the Tories, it’s do as I say, not as I do. The standard they expect from other political parties is never the same as they apply to themselves.
Douglas Ross recently turned down an invitation to attend
a VJ Day commemoration so he could work as a linesman at a football match. Boris Johnson is recharging his batteries in a £1500-per-week cottage, binge-watching Netflix and chilling as only a prime minister during a national health emergency can.
While we don’t know the exact date when the Prime Minister will be back at work, it is expected to be sometime next week. Not that we will notice much difference.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel