Arthur Greene
The UK government’s shambolic two-day civil war has come to an end. On Thursday morning, Boris Johnson gave into the will of his own cabinet and agreed to step down as prime minister.
The media reviews duly followed. His one-time allies hailed him as the man who “got Brexit done”, while his enemies highlighted his lies and lawlessness.
But is the battle really over? And is it likely that this power-hungry chancer will ever give up his throne?
When news surfaced that Johnson had meekly agreed to step down, most assumed that he would be out of office by the end of the day. After all, 60 resignations in the last 48 hours had left his government almost empty.
But reports quickly emerged that he would only be willing to stand down in October while a successor is chosen.
He confirmed the news at the very beginning of his resignation speech, saying, “the process of choosing that new leader should begin now. The timetable will be announced next week and I’ve today appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place.”
Panic set in. This was unacceptable, leader of the opposition Keir Starmer and several members of Johnson’s own government agreed, and he would have to be removed urgently.
So at the close of his resignation speech, the battle to have him removed from power raged on.
Starmer’s Labour Party say they will push for a vote of no confidence if he continues to threaten to remain in power for the next few months.
But even if Johnson manages to cling onto his job for the moment, can he be trusted to keep his word?
It is clear that he believes that the normal rules the rest of us live by do not apply to him. He demonstrated this as an arrogant schoolboy, then as a dishonest journalist, and finally as a corrupt politician.
But throughout his career he’s consistently used his disregard for the rule of law – and common decency – to claw his way to a higher position of power.
As a child, Johnson announced his ambition to one day become “World King” and since then the old chancer’s hunger for power has never waned.
