FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
LONDON – It was Boris Johnson’s last show, but one feels that the consummate actor has now lost his enchantment: and yesterday one might be reminded that the former British Prime Minister was inexorably forgotten.
Boris appeared before the Members’ Commission, which deals with cases of contempt of Parliament, in the afternoon: the former Prime Minister is accused of misleading the House of Commons by declaring in the Chamber that Downing Street was complying with all rules on Covid been . This is the latest act in the infamous Partygate, the lockdown party scandal at the Prime Minister’s residence: what is now in question, however, is Johnson’s conduct before Parliament. If it were found that he had lied, even though he knew he was lying, he could be suspended from MPs and his political career would be over.
The “interrogation” was televised live: and Parliament’s television page crashed. Boris did not disappoint the audience: and he drew on all his oratorio and mastery of the stage, knowing full well that he was addressing a much larger audience than just the parliamentary committee.
After solemnly swearing his oath to God and the Bible, Johnson proclaimed: “I am here to tell you with my hand on my heart that I have not lied to Parliament. These statements were made in good faith based on what I knew and believed at the time.” However, the former prime minister apologized for the holidays: “It was wrong, I bitterly regret it, I understand the public’s anger and I accept it fully responsibility for it.”
But the members of the Commission were undeterred and harassed him for hours with pictures of these parties: How was it possible that he didn’t know that all the rules were being broken? Boris got into trouble, got nervous, raised his voice, lost the thread going into detail. Eventually, after three hours, he lost his temper and called some of the questions “complete nonsense”.
But to the end he maintained his innocence. In his opinion, during the pandemic there was a need to thank and motivate employees, and so these small parties were essentially work events: When asked if all the alcohol was needed, however, he calmly replied: “In this country it is customary to greet people with a toast».
But an equally significant event occurred during a lull in negotiations, when MPs voted on the Northern Ireland deal reached by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Brussels at the end of February: Boris opposed it, but only once did a small patrol of rebels (including fellow former PM Liz Truss) followed him. So the deal was passed by a referendum: a sign the Tories have realized their hopes of an electoral comeback against Labour, who are way ahead in the polls, now lie in Sunak, a little-spoken but bringing home the results, while Boris has instead had his day. The lights on his show keep going out.