THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
"I hate to say it, I hate to say it but it's probably me" – a quote from Sting, who may or may not have been forecasting that the Tory party would soon be experiencing fits of remorse at having defenestrated it's only proven serial vote winner, Boris.
In response to his farewell performance in the House of Commons ending with a flourish, "Hasta la vista, baby", he received a standing ovation from the colleagues who had ousted him. If he had been allowed to compete against those seeking to replace him, who can doubt that he would have wiped the floor with them?
It is true that Boris didn't always tell the truth, plus other misdemeanours - but then Joe Biden swore that the US military did not advise against his chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, only for every senior US general subsequently to testify that they did.
But Boris has an inspirational quality totally lacking in, for instance, Rishi Sunak, who might yet make a competent Prime Minister, but has found that he who wields the knife may not necessarily get to wear the crown. At least he stabbed Boris in the front. The "allies of" Liz Truss left their knives planted firmly between the shoulder blades of the more likeable Penny Mordaunt.
The faux Thatcher, Truss is winning the race by promising £30 billion tax cuts but NO spending cuts. Nor can she ever hope to look nearly as convincing as Thatcher climbing out of a tank, despite her unfortunate attempt to try! If she wins we have to hope that she will do better than many who know her fear she will. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are deploring the loss of Boris and it won't take much longer for yet more the Tories to do so too.
The winner so far is the leader of the opposition, the dogged, though uninspiring Sir Keir Starmer. In Parliament, Boris described Starmer as a "chlorinated chicken" and a "great big pointless human bollard", but Keir is busy conspiring with the Lib Dems to win next time.
So do not forget the Terminator's threat, "I will be back". For Boris is keeping wide open the possibility that if there is a fiasco in the election, the Tories may turn to him again, as they did post the easily forgotten Theresa May.
If Labour win the election who, except them, wouldn't want to have Boris back making fun of them everyday?
Hasta la vista, Boris!
