“We are going to energise the country. We are going to get Brexit done on October 31st. We are going to take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring in a new spirit of ‘Can-Do’.”

-Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson is undoubtedly the most well known British Politician of our age, and arguably the most controversial. He has certainly had his fair share of gaffes, and political embarrassments; some brought cheer and laughter, many brought winces of embarrassment from those within the Conservative Party. Through it all however, Boris has always survived and to the surprise of many, increased his popularity amongst the British public.

This is not to say that the affection much of the population have towards him is unanimous, indeed, while many see him as a national treasure, many also view him as a national embarrassment. His election as Conservative Party leader and through it Prime Minister has made these differing views much more prominent. I myself stand on the side of admiration towards Boris. It is undoubtedly the case that we will certainly see a variety of gaffes from him, potentially many mistakes and rethinking strategies, but those I will be able to ignore. I do truly believe that history will remember him as a deeply controversial prime minister, but like Winston Churchill; another deeply controversial P.M, he will be remembered as one of our greatest Prime Ministers.

After all that I said about the gaffes and embarrassments, whether in the past or I’m sure in the future, how can I say that I think he will be one of our greatest Prime Ministers? Let me first begin by saying that one of the biggest things that annoys me about British politics today is how politicians should act as role models for us all to look to. They shouldn’t smoke, they shouldn’t drink, they should exercise daily, their hair must be on point and their suits crisp and tidy. What I love about Boris, is that while he has been in politics for a long time, he has never lost his individuality, he’s kept his eccentricity and because of that he is memorable to the public. This has always been the key to his success, by staying away from being a stereotypical politician he has ensured his name is known by nearly every household in the country. He is his own person, and while that does bring some embarrassment and controversy it also allows him to look more genuine and more relatable.

His policies give me hope for the future; his strong line on Brexit once more makes me hope that my vote to leave in 2016 will now truly be respected, I really feel he will get a good deal from the E.U. and we can leave in an amicable way that truly respects the result from the 2016 referendum, rather than Theresa May’s hopeless plan, which rather than releasing us from the E.U. would have kept us continually shackled to them, potentially in an even worse situation than what we had before the referendum. From other areas Boris announced on the campaign trail recently I am genuinely hoping that Boris, will reduce the ‘Nanny State’ culture that is currently surrounding this country. As a Conservative I strongly believe that the government should have as little input on people’s lives as it possibly can, while ensuring the public are protected and order is maintained, they should as much as possible let individual freedoms swell and rise. Things like the sugar tax, (which hasn’t brought a substantial change), simply make us feel like the Government is simply mothering us, and at the end of the day, like children, the more a government tells us that something is bad for us, the more it says we shouldn’t do it, then ultimately the more people will want to do it.

Moving on from this, I believe strongly in the tax reforms that Boris is suggesting. I feel it will be better for the country when many taxes have been lowered, especially in the time of Brexit, it’s important to keep spending going in this country, to ensure that businesses thrive and have room to hire. By lowing the prices on goods through lowering taxes on corporations we can ensure that spending continues and corporations continue to hire, continually increasing the economic cycle. By also helping people on the lower paid spectrum, by raising the point where people have to pay national insurance, it will also assist those at the bottom to also enjoy life and get some well earned luxuries on the way. I hope when the new Government look at taxes they can also look at how to support smaller businesses, many of whom are struggling, potentially a drop in V.A.T is required to help them grow and succeed.

Electoral Success?

Ever since the 2017 election, where Theresa May catastrophically not only lost a very high lead in the polls, but also her majority, the Conservative Party has fallen dramatically. Since that fateful election we have seen arguably the oldest and most successful party in western democracy battle and argue amongst itself to such an extent we have probably witnessed the most bitter and divided Government for well over 100 years. The great leaders of the past such as Pitt, Peel, Disraeli, Baldwin, Churchill etc, would truly despair if they saw the sorry sight of the once great party in the state it is now. However, I feel that the dark days are ending, and Boris Johnson will be the man who pulls the party out of the dirt, so it may stand tall as it did once more. But why? Why do I believe this ‘bumbling fool’ can lead the party back from the brink? It all starts with Brexit; Boris believes in Brexit, something his predecessor never did, he is fully aware that this is last chance saloon for his party, if he doesn’t deliver what the people voted for, then he knows he’s in trouble. Thankfully I feel Boris has the backbone and the persuasiveness to be able to turn this around, and find a deal that is right for Britain and will respect the referendum.

Further to this, I feel Boris is the only person that will not only keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Number 10, but is one of the few who can bring about a true Conservative Majority Government. He is the only person I feel that can reach out to Labour areas and bring their votes to the Tories. Boris has proved this not once, not twice but three times before. The first two times of course were the London Mayoral Elections 2008 & 2012; I cannot see another conservative winning in a London wide poll anytime soon. After this of course we have the European Referendum in 2016. I have no doubt at all that leave would have procured many votes from Labour voters, especially in the Eurosceptic north of England, however, I do not envisage leave would have won without Boris being one of the fundamental players .

It is easy to currently see how the election of Boris has once more changed the political landscape, before even being elected as leader, other parties started their attacks. While all different in their approach they all sounded similar: untrustworthy, a clown, a buffoon, some of the words so far used to attack Boris, in the usual left wing approach of insults before rational political debate. However, it does not surprise me in the slightest that this is the case. Boris is a unique veteran campaigner, this has been proven in the past and I have no doubt will be proven more in the future. Where the other parties fill people’s minds with doubt in regards to the strength of our great country, Boris raises it, his positive and patriotic speeches always fills the population with pride. He is the leader that will bring back the Conservative party and ensures that it once more becomes a party that holds to its principles, many of which were lost some years ago. I must confess, I always find people, especially when from the labour party, calling Boris a clown absolutely laughable. There is only one group of clowns in Parliament currently and that is the Labour front bench, with their key showpiece; Corbyn on the tightrope, first leaning one way, then suddenly the other. Boris only has a short amount of time to deliver his pledge of leaving the E.U by the 31st October, should he succeed in doing so, I believe the oldest party in western democracy will survive for many years to come, and the other parties can only stop and stare in bewilderment while the man they called a joke, continues past the next election and leads the country into a new Golden Age.