Article Reflection No. 16 (7/8/2022)

Photo Credit: CNBC

Article: Boris Johnson’s Fight for Survival, Explained

How did a favorably popular politician in Britain who brought triumph to the Conservative Party resign from his position as prime minister two-and-a-half years later?

According to the article “Boris Johnson’s Fight for Survival, Explained”, Boris Johnson became subject to pressure concerning his recall because of continuous “partygate” scandals disobeying enforced COVID-19 lockdown laws. Allegedly, there were parties at the lucrative Downing Street, in which people drank excessively and did not stay social-distanced. This, journalists Stephen Castle and Peter Robins writes, was inappropriate, insensitive behavior, given how “people…were barred from visiting dying relatives at the time of [these ‘partygate’ gatherings]” (Castle, Robins; 8).

Another factor that contributed to Johnson’s recall included sexual misconduct of the Conservative Party’s lawmakers—in other words, Johnson’s large supporters. For example, although he was aware of misconduct accusations against Conservative Parliament member Chris Pincher, Johnson still promoted him, making himself unfavorable among both the public and lawmakers. As the article states, Parliament lawmakers are important to the prime minister because they can quite literally rewrite the laws concerning no-confidence vote. Currently, there is a law “protecting” Boris Johnson from a no-confidence vote, but, according to this article, the legislation can shift radically.

For a developing future, this event must stand as a grave reminder of the costs in disobeying one’s national laws—especially when public representation and trust is involved. History rhymes with itself, so when a similar scenario occurs once more, I hope that politicians become prudent and seek to understand, not compete.

Vocab:

[Definitions from Oxford Languages Dictionary]

Cabal (n.) secret political clique/faction

Interim (adj.) in or for the intervening period; provisional or temporary.

Contender (n.) a person or group competing with others to achieve something.