A new account from the Labour Party tracked 80 examples of Boris Johnson’s ‘lies and dishonesty’ in just over 100 days. When read alongside each other, they make for shocking reading. And even since this was published, Johnson’s not stopped.

“Having trouble keeping track of… Johnson’s lies?”

On 4 October, a new account from the Labour Party called the Insider shared its article called “80 reasons why you can’t trust Boris Johnson”. As it notes:

NEW: Having trouble keeping track of all of Boris Johnson's lies? In just over 100 days he has lied or been dishonest 80 times. We've created this handy timeline to keep track of his dishonesty.

Check it out here 👇https://t.co/UiLLXnlK8d — The Insider (@The_InsiderUK) October 4, 2019

First published on 29 September, the meticulously researched article is ongoing with updates. The latest, on 3 October, for example, shows that in parliament (as recorded by Hansard) Johnson said:

Following the publication of alternative arrangements to the backstop, Johnson addressed Parliament and stated that there would be no customs checks at the Irish border or “indeed at any other place.”

Yet, as it shows, this is not what the source text (euronews) reported:

This is not what Johnson has told the EU. In a letter to Jean-Claude Junker he said that there would need to be a “very small number of physical checks” at traders’ premises or points in the supply chain.

And on, and on it goes…

Johnson’s ‘best bits’

The article contains 10 references to times Johnson’s told an “outright lie” or “flat out lie”. Let’s not forget, this man’s our prime minister.

In such a long list of lies, misinformation and dishonesty it’s tricky to pull out highlights. Starting on 12 June, as he set out on the leadership contest, Johnson made what the Insider called “entirely misleading” comments about building more affordable homes in his time as London mayor. It goes on to catalogue a barrage of Johnson’s deceit throughout the contest from nurses and education, from tax to Brexit.

By 12 July, for example, he told the Telegraph that “financial services bring in £72 billion in tax”. ‘Somehow’ he added and extra £43bn to the actual figure of £29bn.

In his first statement to parliament on 25 July, the new prime minister insisted that that “crime is…down”. Yet as the article shows:

just 17 minutes earlier he admitted that there was a “rising tide of violence”… Violent crime has actually more than doubled under the Tories, including record levels of knife crime.

And this pattern has just carried on, because, on 4 October, Johnsons sent out a tweet that was totally at odds with a Brexit statement put out by his aides:

Either this tweet is a lie, or Boris Johnson’s lawyer lied to the court today. https://t.co/xZSxTQrP4v — The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) October 4, 2019

In fact, as one Twitter user noted, it’s getting harder not to notice:

The first thing you need to know about Boris Johnson club is BORIS LIES The second thing you need to know about Boris Johnson club is BORIS LIES The third thing you need to know about Boris Johnson club is BORIS LIES#BrexitExtension #BorisLieshttps://t.co/ObkVdmzLmD — Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) October 4, 2019

Added to this, he keeps smirking when he lies:

Has anyone noticed Boris Johnson smirks when he lies? I've seen it a few times now, rather disturbing. — Williamos (@Williamos6) September 30, 2019

“Universal deceit”

As George Orwell famously wrote in 1984:

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

Orwell’s words seem more poignant than ever. Backed by Dominic Cummings and his right-wing government, this seems like a clear and dangerous strategy from Johnson. The continual lies and misinformation create constant distraction and confusion. It’s a strategy that also seems to be straight out of the Donald Trump playbook.

In contrast stands Jeremy Corbyn. His continued honesty really is ‘revolutionary’. So as Johnson’s lies continue, because they inevitably will, that’s what we all need to remember.

Featured image via ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor