LONDON (Labour Buzz) - Is Boris’ real motivation fame and personal achievement rather than the common good? Or is it ‘a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing’?

It’s pertinent how he has been consistently perceived as a lovable rogue, and an equally eccentric Pooh Bear. Yet it was rare, until very recently for anyone to persistently question his seeming contempt for truth even though this was evident during the original Brexit campaign. Boris spotted an opportunity to construct an argument so with scant disregard for fact checking, hijacked the disgruntled voters obsessed by immigration and a feeling that Europe was giving them little benefit or opportunity outside London. He tapped into the visceral ‘sense of identity and belonging’ and used this passion and nationalist feeling to further his own ends. However, he has also picked up the label ‘Pinocchio Johnson’.

To onlookers it appeared like a game, a challenge, and hutzpah even. Tory supporters seemed to have rallied round the playground clown as if their usual prefects suddenly appeared ineffectual, old fashioned and inappropriate. It was time for the maverick, the flamboyant joker; the entertainer to obfuscate and tie any opponent in knots.

Yes, it can be fun to hear an entertaining speech, an articulation of what people might have been secretly thinking, but it’s something very different to put a loose cannon in charge of a country’s future. Boris has admitted that as Brussels’ correspondent he enjoyed being feisty and radical in his columns and was shocked by the response his musings elicit. Bad behaviour and disloyalty now seem key qualities to serve in the Conservative Party.

But Boris has always enjoyed playing to the gallery. His fame is an important aspect of his personality. You form the impression he is not necessarily interested in the right course of action; he is more interested in the entertainment factor. With little opposition and a transformation in his position Boris appeared to be the only option to deliver Brexit, scotch Farage and defeat Corbyn. But is he really the man capable of doing what George Osborne believes is the only option: ‘to connect with modern Britain, align with younger voters’ aspirations, urban voters and those 16 million people appalled at the decision to leave the EU?’ How could he possibly be that man?

Corbyn, and Farage on the other hand speak to their own faithful and offer hope to believers. You can’t help feeling that Boris just can’t be bothered to think about anyone else except himself. When Wikipedia says the number of children attributed to him is ‘at least five’ it doesn’t suggest fidelity.

Johnson inevitably argues through a narrative arch. After all it's easy to be an agitator when you are an old Etonian that occupies a privileged white, male perspective. He enjoys controversy but doesn't seem to be interested in following through, in integrity, morality or even detail. Frankly I think he's bored. We know he wanted to be 'King of the World', as a child, but now finds the reality of that responsibility a ball ache. Compromise, responsibility, being questioned, being criticised, losing the 'eccentric cuddly, bumbling Boris' reputation, he enjoyed as Mayor of London, demonstrates how unsuited he is for this role.

Boris the bombast might well have had his own way for too long. He was probably tolerated and feted as a memorable eccentric that provided great entertainment and was good for a laugh.

It appeared that people saw him as less of a 'breath of fresh air' but as a change of air, someone who represented a complete contrast to Theresa May. Even she put him on the front line and the whole Conservative Party was looking for a charismatic leader to break out the Chinese handcuffs that bound it regarding Europe. Boris’ reputation suggested he might well bulldoze his way through difficult negotiations. When that didn't work and the ‘not so secret weapon’ that is Dominic Cummins wasn't the solution, Boris seemed to run out of steam quickly. His bullying stance wasn’t tolerated, and it appears right now that his followers are not so vocal in support. In fact, fellow MPs took him to task for his use of language, lack of ideas and ignored his flamboyance. Suddenly Boris’ ammunition had lost its firepower and there is surprisingly little in reserve.

This comes as no surprise to his former boss at the Daily Telegraph, Max Hastings, who described his greatest vice as his cowardice. He said in a Guardian article this was ‘reflected in a willingness to tell any audience, whatever he thinks most likely to please, heedless of the inevitability of its contradiction an hour later.’ Why would anyone elect a personality like this to steer a country through a challenging set of obstacles?

Now we see a man who appears to bumble through interviews and who is beginning to realise that he may well be dressed in borrowed robes. Yet you cannot help thinking that simultaneously Boris is somewhat disappointed that he can't fulfil his ambition to be, a somewhat despotic, King of the World.

(Written by Vivienne Neale, edited by Michael O'Sullivan)

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