Beware of Boris the Joker…
He may be a modern day emperor Nero that plays the verbal fiddle as Western democracy implodes.
Boris Johnson’s key political skill is in his ability to distract with ‘affable buffoonery’ and clowning while he shamelessly dismantles and erodes social rights and protections put in place since 1940’s, all the while presenting himself as a icon of the every-man.
What is alarming about his political rise to the second most powerful person in the Western world is that it was based on ruthlessly dismantling the credibility of his own party leader, the second female prime minister of the UK — as well as jumping on a bandwagon pulled by a potential Trojan horse to unseat the most centrist leader of the Conservative Party. Not to mention Brexit itself being a perfect fulfilment of a longstanding agenda of Russian strategic interests to systematically degrade the Wests unity, credibility and coherence at the global stage.
It is ironic tragedy for the United Kingdom that the party of Winston Churchill is the very party that has been hijacked by Russian lobbying, funds and strategic interests. In the grand scheme of things… Much like his counterpart in the United States who inexplicably and repeatedly acts against the interests of his own state. Doing so much more aggressively and destructively than any Russian state actor or spokesperson can ever dream of.
Perhaps this is simply a development juncture where Western ideals and platforms are being challenged freely by strong and more ruthless autocratic adversaries, purely because its institutions are unable to account for or defend against such attacks. Or rather its neo-liberal instincts prevent it from working effectively across partisan lines to ensure that social and economic stability exist in real terms for the masses. A prospect that leaves less vulnerabilty for outside state forces to undermine the society(s) which are sinking into grave imbalance, distress and discord.
Boris Johnsons trail of policies as the Mayor of London themselves point to contempt for the social safety nets put in place to provide for the basic needs of entire communities; those living on the margins and without adequate private or public resources. He has overseen cuts to services such as fire stations and firefighting vehicles. The consequence of this gravely illustrated by the ensuring Grenfel Tragedy — a point of mockery by his current aides.
Community spaces and centres have been part funded by City Hall and GLA giving the private development sector access to protected assets via unsustainable development contracts and loans to cover shortfalls for unrealistic efforts of gentrification — leaving the very beneficiaries of community services evicted en mass. Another distasteful social consequence of his actions but what stays in the mind is the cheerful chubby man stuck on a zip wire — waving Union-Jacks.
Before anyone is aware of whats occurred Boris is out of the scene — remembered only for his ‘affable buffoonery’!