Johnson’s biggest failing was not that he was a conservative, but that he didn’t act much like one
From the Indian perspective, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation on Thursday as the Conservative Party leader was a little weird. Consider the trigger: he appointed Chris Pincher as the deputy chief whip in charge of the ruling party despite being aware of Pincher’s sexual transgressions. The development came after reports that Johnson had attended parties during the COVID pandemic, thus breaking the very rules his own Government had made. In our country, such misdemeanours at the most cause embarrassment, not loss of power. It is routinely reported, for example, how our politicians and their minions thrash toll collectors. Does it bring down Governments? While Johnson’s behaviour was reprehensible in such cases, at worst he and his administration could be accused of misconduct; but there wasn’t any financial scam or some other major scandal under his watch. Further, the economy is in good shape. Yes, inflation is high but that has a lot to do with pandemic stimulus in circulation which is in the region of £400 billion ($480 billion). “If the world tips into an energy shock recession, this rainy, small crowded island nation ought to hold up better than most. With full employment, a strong banking sector and robust household and corporate balance sheets — and the ability, despite what the last chancellor said, to add more Government fiscal stimulus — any downturn can be mitigated. The UK’s debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio remains just below 100 per cent, better than many other major economies, so there’s room to borrow,” Bloomberg reported.
Clearly, Johnson didn’t fall because of what he did but what he was: He was a conservative, not just in name but in his beliefs, in his faith in British exceptionalism, patriotism and open economy. Such beliefs, especially Brexit, are anathema to not just the Left but also the liberal establishment (which, unfortunately, has been badly infected with the Left). Since liberals control almost the entire opinion-making apparatus — the mainstream media, academics, the culture industry, et al — he began with a great disadvantage. And they despise anyone who doesn’t subscribe to their views and pay obeisance to their dogmas. Even if a Rightwing politician decides to liberals’ pet issues like climate change, he or she is not treated with any sympathy. Johnson did try to fashion policies (net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions in a short time) and make decisions (the pandemic lockdown) in accordance with the liberal canons. In fact, his biggest failing was not that he was a conservative but that he didn’t act much like a conservative. His other failings, like partying during the pandemic and choosing Pincher, added to that. Yet, the good work Johnson did will be remembered. Brexit is one such achievement. Another one is strengthening the India-UK ties, leading to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. The negotiations for the ongoing Indo-British Free Trade Agreement or FTA are also unlikely to be jeopardised by his resignation.
