Anyone observing from the outside the British isles what is currently happening in British politics must be appalled! After Boris Johnson resigned in shame in July, Liz Truss, his successor as Prime Minister, nominated by the members of the Conservative party, lasted a mere 44 days in her job before being forced to resign over a shambolic economic policy and an unsustainable mini-budget.
So it is back to square one: Conservative MP’s declare their support for their favourite candidate as leader of the Conservative party and thus next Prime Minister, and if there are more than one candidates who pass the threshold of at least 100 supporters, the party members get to choose once more.
In theory there is nothing wrong with this process except for the fact that for a few days it looked like Boris Johnson, who has left 10 Downing Street less than two months ago might move back in again within the week. As if the U.K. and in particular it’s governing party hadn’t learnt anything from the chaotic events in recent years. Luckily he has since seen sense and removed his name from the process.
Great Britain to the outside world doesn’t look quite so great these days. Politicians standing for re-election almost immediately after having been forced to resign is something we’re more accustomed to from countries which wouldn’t necessarily spring first to mind as beacons of democratic and good governance. Yet, here we go: One of the biggest democracies is quickly becoming the laughingstock of the rest of the world.
What the British population makes of all this seems abundantly clear: The latest polls give Labour a lead of a spectacular 30%. If there were a general election now, this would literally mean a wipeout of the Tories. This obviously is not a pleasant outlook for the quite possibly over 200 Conservative members of parliament who stand to lose their seats whenever this election takes place.
Boris Johnson, while bowing out of the current contest, has confidently declared his interest in leading the Conservatives to election victory at the next general election in 2024. I just sincerely hope we won’t have to wait that long to go to the polls again.
The grumpy older man 