
We’re Governed by Clowns
As the cost of living crisis bites, this week’s new government appointments make it clear there’s only one item on the prime minister’s agenda: saving his own skin.
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Phil Burton-Cartledge is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Derby and blogs at All That Is Solid. His latest book is Falling Down: the Conservative Party and the Decline of Tory Britain (Verso, 2021).
As the cost of living crisis bites, this week’s new government appointments make it clear there’s only one item on the prime minister’s agenda: saving his own skin.
Boris Johnson has always been a liar and a hypocrite, but he was a useful one for Britain’s ruling class – the latest revelations are a sign that this is no longer the case.
Last night’s defeat in North Shropshire has led many to predict Boris Johnson’s imminent demise. But few potential successors are in strong positions, suggesting the Tories’ problems may just be beginning.
At this year’s Conservative conference, a government which is overseeing hardship for millions amid countless economic crises got the chance to sing its own praises – and did so without an ounce of shame.
The Tory Party has nearly all the advantages in British politics – including the backing of wealthy donors and the billionaire press – but their weakness among voters under 50 suggests the future isn’t theirs.