Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The saga of party gate would it be over?
This scandal which has embarrassed Prime Minister Boris Johnson for several months seems in any case to be unraveled, with the publication, on Wednesday, of a long-awaited investigation report which could put an end to the controversy.
Signed by senior civil servant Sue Gray, reputed to be intractable, the report blames the highest levels of power for these events which “should not have been authorized”.
But he does not name anyone responsible or recommend sanctions, to the great relief of Mr. Johnson, who came very close to losing his job.
A veritable political soap opera in the United Kingdom for six months, the party gate concerns a series of illegal parties that took place in Downing Street (Prime Minister’s residence) in May 2020, when the British population was locked down during the COVID-19 crisis.
The report details, with supporting emails and photos, what was going on behind the scenes: very alcoholic evenings, music, departures through backdoors and sometimes disrespect for security guards or maintenance employees.
Some of the less experienced officials believed that their participation in some of these events was permissible given the presence of senior leaders. Senior leaders, whether political or official, must take responsibility for this culture.
Sue Gray, in her report
Reacting to this slap on the wrist, Boris Johnson renewed his apologies to MPs on Wednesday and said he took “full responsibility for everything that happened”, but he said he was determined to remain in office to ” concentrate on the priorities of the British”.
It’s time to “move on,” he said, as if the chapter was closed. His only punishment will have been a fine of 50 pounds ($80) for having attended a party given for his birthday.
luck and charisma
Boris Johnson therefore gets away with it. One more time. Because this politician, often called a “Teflon”, seems to have a special talent for surviving controversy.
Journalist, he was fired for made-up quotes in the Times before becoming a star columnist at Telegraph. MP, he lost his seat for having lied about an affair before being launched into orbit as mayor of London.
Since he became Prime Minister, the controversies follow one another. A trip to the Caribbean paid for by a patron. Luxury tapestry in his residence, paid for by taxpayers. Undeclared expenses, lies about the effects of Brexit, breaches of the law.
But the consequences are minimal. Even weakened, Boris Johnson is still there.
What is his secret?
Politically, I think he is an extremely intelligent guy, who feels things well. But he’s also lucky with him, that’s undeniable.
Tristan de Bourbon, journalist and author of the book Boris Johnson – An Upset European
Luck ? In the midst of the crisis party gate, Mr. Johnson came very close to being replaced as leader of the Conservative Party. But he benefited from the lack of relief. None of his potential successors appeared capable of occupying his seat, starting with his designated heir apparent, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, himself bothered by a financial scandal.
PHOTO DANIEL LEAL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rishi Sunak, Minister of Finance
The war in Ukraine has also allowed him to create a diversion from his problems, by establishing himself as a leading international support for President Volodymyr Zelensky. In April, the cover of the satirical magazine Private Eye also showed the two men shaking hands while pronouncing the same words: “Thank you for having saved my job. »
His personality also explains some things. A proven huckster, Boris Johnson manipulates the facts as he pleases. However, the bigger the lies, the more they pass.
He will do and say whatever it takes to get through the crises and postpone the problems until later.
Christopher Stafford, professor of politics at the University of Nottingham
Tristan de Bourbon also presents Mr. Johnson as a follower of magical thinking, who deploys “a lot of energy to change reality”. But according to him, it is his charisma that saves him. The guy may accumulate pans, he remains sympathetic in the eyes of many.
“People think it could be their neighbor, who they’d go to the pub for a drink with,” he said. They find it nice. They say it packs a punch. And above all that it is positive. That’s what people want. A positive leader. »
the party gate has certainly cracked this perception, recognizes Tristan de Bourbon. But “as this crisis does not call into question his work as Prime Minister”, the pill ended up passing, believes the journalist.
We can thus predict that Boris Johnson will remain in office until the next British elections, scheduled for 2023 or 2024. But with inflation exploding in the United Kingdom (9% in April), this last straight line is not announced. of all rest.
It will take a lot of magical thinking and new diversions to get through the turmoil ahead.