The Economist: The downfall of the clown..a failed prime minister and a stricken country

The British magazine The Economist said that the government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally collapsed.

For months, he managed to get rid of one scandal after another.

Now, his deputies have irrevocably rejected him, and he has agreed that his prime ministership is over.

She explained in

that Johnson was brought down because of his dishonesty, so some might conclude that a simple change of leadership would be enough to put Britain back on the right track.

Although his fingerprints are evident in all aspects of today's chaos, the problems are too deep for a single man to be responsible for.

Unless the ruling Conservative Party acts to counter this reality, Britain's many social and economic difficulties will only get worse.

No different from Trump

The British magazine added that Johnson clung tightly to power to the end, arguing that he had a direct mandate from the people, describing it as nonsense, noting that his legitimacy derives from Parliament.

She likened him to former US President Donald Trump, who was the more clinging to power, the more disqualified he became.

She went on to say that although the conclusion took a painful period, Johnson's fate was decided on the fifth of this month when two ministers resigned.

The immediate cause was the behavior of the deputy head of his party, whom two men accused of drunken sexual assault.

Downing Street lied about what the prime minister knew about the man's record of abuse, and sent ministers to repeat the lies - just as he did months ago about the illegal party during the coronavirus lockdown.

She said Johnson rejected the idea that judgment meant choice, and lacked the moral cohesion required to make tough decisions for the national good if doing so threatened his popularity.

He lacks consistency and an understanding of detail to see politics with clarity, he delights in trampling on rules and conventions, and that inherent in his style is his unwavering belief in his ability to get out of trouble by spinning words, while he evasives and lies downright.

fantasy politics

She noted that Johnson, with a "charisma", was able to tie together the contradictory factions in his party because he had never felt the need to resolve their contradictions.

Instead he supported both protectionism and free trade agreements.

She described it as a fantasy policy.

In his campaign to leave the European Union, Johnson promised voters that they could have whatever they wanted—more wealth;

More freedom, less regulation;

More dynamism, less immigration - and that the EU will be knocking on Britain's door desperately for a deal.

And this fantasy worked so well that fantasy became the organizing principle of the Conservative Party.

The need for a cohesive and resolute government

The magazine pointed out that Britain is facing serious problems today.

It has the highest inflation rate in the Group of Seven, and is expected to see the group's slowest growth in 2023. Strikes have spread from railway unions to lawyers and doctors.

With the cost of living rising, there is a need for a cohesive and resolute government to stop spending.

She concluded by saying that Britain is in a dangerous state, as it is poorer than people imagine.

The current account deficit has ballooned, the British pound has fallen, and the interest costs on debt have increased.

If the next government insists on increasing spending and cutting taxes at the same time, it could enter a crisis.

The time when everything was possible is over.

With Johnson gone, politics must once again become relevant.