UK has reputation for sleaze and corruption

IN his letter Geoffrey Brooking is upset that while Boris Johnson is “working hard, day and night” his chums are plotting against him (“Shameful rebels who plot against the PM”, January 3).

Well, I’ve got news for you, Mr Brooking: politics is a very dirty business.

In my opinion, the UK is second only to America in sleaze and corruption, such as lobbying scandals, self-serving MPs, PPE contracts, chumocracy, political donors, jobs for the boys and girls and peerages etc.

Political history teaches us that all the main parties have a long history of back-stabbing and plotting behind the scenes. Given Boris’s awful record of gaffes and scandals, such as the woeful handling of the Covid pandemic, the Owen Paterson scandal, the Downing Street flat refurbishment scandal and parties scandals, it’s little wonder that the knives are out for him.

Don’t forget the so-called European Research Group (ERG) led by Rees-Mogg and his cronies, who frightened David Cameron into holding the failed EU referendum, which has led us to the disaster called Brexit.

Yes, the Tories won an 80-seat majority, based on manifesto promises and commitments which are being broken now at an alarming rate. Remember these – 40 new hospitals, no new tax rises, 20,000 more police officers (to actually replace the ones already lost under the Tory-led coalition)

HS2, no change to the triple-lock system for pensioners, no-one will have to sell their home to pay for social care, The Northern Powerhouse etc; the list goes on.

To claim that Boris is a “man of the people” is risible. He is a rightwing millionaire with his own interests. He is playing at politics until he gets fed up and something more lucrative comes along. We all know that political power is an aphrodisiac, but again, I think Boris will soon be gone and good riddance.

The UK has become the laughing stock of Europe and the world. Our reputation for fairness, honesty, and the rule of law has been trashed. German newspapers call him Bojo the clown leading the circus.

Yes, I believe Mr Johnson will

soon be gone – but wait a minute! Who will replace him? Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Nadine Dorries, Esther McVey – Liz Truss. OMG! The country is stuffed.

There’s little to choose between the two main parties and the British public is being conned every day in every way, and no one seems to know or care, or even be bothered about it!

Chris Wheeldon, by email