Star comment: Leaders setting worst example and making Britain a laughing stock
The plan has been set. Boris Johnson, clearly unhappy at his fall from grace, is now intent on bringing down Rishi Sunak.
If he succeeds, he would be the fourth PM that Boris has toppled – David Cameron, Theresa May, Rishi Sunak, and, of course, himself.
It appears Boris is unhappy that Rishi Sunak appears to have blocked some of his choices in his resignation honours. More importantly, he was also likely to face a by-election because of the findings of an inquiry into his behaviour while in Downing Street.
Now he and his allies appear intent on opening up a civil war within the Tories, presumably in the hope that the party will perform so badly at the next election that there will be a bring-back-Boris clamour.
All this is being played out in front of a largely appalled British public, many of them struggling simply to make ends meet as the cost of living crisis continues. It illustrates how out of touch, how self-obsessed and how disregarding they are.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party is desperately trying to look statesman-like just long enough to get into power. But you can bet that another former leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and his Momentum wing will be out to sabotage Sir Keir’s administration. Already, Labour has thwarted some as it seeks to clean up its act and control more carefully who can and cannot stand.
As role models, our leaders are setting the worst example – that deceit and self-interest pays dividends. We can only hope that common decency breaks out. Britain has become a laughing stock and it’s time for those that undermine it to move on. Let the grown-ups run the country and get it back on track.
