Dr John Mohan Razui
Boris Johnson will be remembered for his contributions as mayor of London. Modern British political history will certainly add Bojo’s contribution to BREXITi.e., Britain’s exit from European Union (EU) His clear vision and articulation and in the process pushing Britain out of European Union (EU)is indeed noteworthy at least for conservative party supporters. In the last general elections Bojo swept the polls and in the process elevated Conservative Party in landslide victory and formed the government for which he became the prime minister of Britain. Again, the expectations of British public went spiralling when Boris Johnson became the prime minister who would elevate Britain to greater heights.
Short of few months for the completion of three years, Bojo had to resign as majority of his cabinet colleagues and party MPs revolted against him. Having lost the confidence of his party and the British public, he had to resign as the leader of the Conservative party. A charismatic person once now had to lose the best job barely before three years because of bundles of scandals, contradictions and numerous cover ups. Though known for his theatrics and hoodwinking, he had forgotten that there should be an end for everything. Nevertheless, in Bojo’s leadership we need to learn a lesson which should be a constant reminder to those leaders who are totalitarians, authoritarians and so-called ‘democrats’ and also people at large.
The most striking thing that we learn from the entire episode of Bojo is a morality tale that has lessons for other democracies as well. Boris Johnson was the most sought leader in December 2019, who led the party to a thumping victory in parliamentary elections ever since 1979, hardly lasted for about two and half years. In addition, cost of living, energy, nationalism and falling of economy were the core factors for the fall of Bojo’s that enjoins three facets such as: personal, political and constitutional reflecting his failure by not fulfilling his job for which he has been elected thereby resulting in failing to perform his constitutional duty and obligation.
Leaving all these aside, two factors in Bojo’s fiasco needs to be considered. His personality and policy are in dialectical ways swung in erratic ways. He was known for bullying, adding bundles of lies leading to contradictory statements. On a number of occasions, he without any remorse broke laws that should have observed as the leader. A healthy democracy shall never tolerate those who fails to deliver the promises made.
The lesson in Bojo’s episode is that leaders with massive mandates and electorates backing need to mindful or can even say that they should be careful of the fact that the office needs to be respected at least showing accountability, responsibility, transparency, respect and authority. Political parties must act fast when they sense their leader is proving to be a liability – no one is indispensable. It is a clear reminder to democratically elected leaders that never to take the governed for granted. Nowadays we keep witnessing that those who abuse their power and authority shall never be tolerated for long. People are the means and ends of democracy.
