What a year that was
Divorce, marriage, a new baby, a global pandemic, one near-death experience — and remember Jennifer Arcuri?! The PM has packed a lot into his first 12 months — but at least it wasn’t boring. Julian Glover has a recap
The highs (and lows) of the PM’s first 12 months in office
THE sun shone on Boris Johnson a year ago next week, as he stood outside Downing Street, Prime Minister at last. He’d been to see the Queen, his blue tie knotted neatly and his hair brushed. He’d vanquished his enemies. He was about to appoint a Cabinet of loyalists, eager to get Brexit done, just as he wanted. What could go wrong? Well, 12 months on, he’s almost died in a global pandemic, become a father, got divorced, won a general election, lost a chancellor, got Britain out of the EU but not into a new deal, faced a fresh Labour leader, tried to close down Parliament for months, seen the economy implode, shut pubs, banned cricket, and clung on to Dominic Cummings. He’s also had a haircut. Well, they never said it would be boring. Here’s year one of the Johnson era.
July 2019
The month that ... Johnson became Prime Minister on July 24 and kicked out the old Cabinet.
What he said: “Like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self doubt and negativity” — Johnson as he won.
Crazy rating: Just one star. Given what followed, July seems normal.
August 2019
The month that … The Liberal Democrats won a by-election (remember them?) and Johnson’s plan for Brexit looked in peril as opponents went to court to stop him closing down the House of Commons.
What he said: “I am not attracted to arcane procedures such as the prorogation of parliament” — Johnson’s Tory leadership campaign promise before trying to do exactly that.
Crazy rating: Two stars. August was the last month before everything went weird.
September 2019
The month that … Everyone seemed to resign: John Bercow, Amber Rudd, even the PM’s brother Jo as the battle to stop a no-deal Brexit sent heads spinning. The Supreme Court ruled that suspending Parliament was unlawful — and Lady Hale’s spider brooch went viral. Meanwhile, we heard about an entrepreneur called Jennifer Arcuri.
What they said: “He literally was talking to her about the tech situation, and he wanted an adviser. And if you were a guy, looking for an adviser, would you want some guy in his forties ... or her?” — a “friend” of Arcuri explaining why Johnson
had visited her flat when he ws Mayor of London.
Crazy rating: Four stars. The PM seemed on the ropes — and that was before we heard about the dancing pole in Arcuri’s flat.
October 2019
The month that … Brexit raged in the Commons, led by Tory rebels such as Oliver Letwin. They stopped the Prime Minister’s promise to get out of the European Union by October 31 or be found “dead in a ditch”. Everyone talked about second referendums, new parties or a government of national unity. The special 50p Brexit coins were melted down. Then the Prime Minister hit back with a plan for a general election — and the Liberal Democrats let it happen. On October 29 the Commons voted for one and suddenly Johnson was back in control. What he said: “A bridge from Stranraer in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland — that would be very good. It would only cost about £15 billion.” — Johnson on his new idea to improve connectivity in the UK. Crazyrating: Four stars. It was the wildest Parliamentary session in years.