Prime minister

Rishi Sunak Will Become the U.K.’s Next Prime Minister on Tuesday

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

LONDON — Rishi Sunak, who will become Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday, after prevailing in a chaotic Conservative Party leadership race, said on Monday that his focus would be “stability and unity.”

A former chancellor of the Exchequer who is the son of Indian immigrants, Mr. Sunak, 42, won the contest to replace the ousted Liz Truss, who resigned under pressure last Thursday after her economic agenda caused turmoil. Mr. Sunak will be Britain’s third leader in seven weeks and the first prime minister of color in its history [ . . . ]

Continue at NY Times

Boris Johnson’s return as Prime Minister would be completely unacceptable – Scotsman comment

~ Michael Stevenson ~ 1 Comment

With his last words at Prime Minister’s Questions – “hasta la vista, baby” – and in his final Downing Street speech – when he referenced the ancient Roman statesman Cincinnatus who resigned and went back to his farm, only to return as a dictator – Boris Johnson told us he would be back.

What fools we were to think even the current Conservative party would never consider such a foolish and damaging move. The man who was forced to relinquish office by his own MPs because of serial dishonesty is now a serious contender to replace his own replacement, the hapless Liz Truss. Perhaps they plan to take it in turns until they have eked out every last minute of the 2019 election’s mandate – drunk on power, living it up on the state’s tab and intermittently squabbling amongst themselves while the country’s economy goes down the toilet.

Rory Stewart, a former Conservative Cabinet minister, lamented: “Only a nation which was gripped by pessimistic despair and no longer believed that there could be a serious response to its unfolding tragedies would want to take refuge in the leadership of a clown.” Once we could have relied on Tories like Stewart, Dr Sarah Wollaston, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen to steer a vaguely sensible course. [ . . . ]

Continue at The Scotsman: Boris Johnson’s return as Prime Minister would be completely unacceptable – Scotsman comment

Opinion | The circus music is winding down for BoJo the Clown

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

The scandal, inevitably called “Partygate,” would be deeply embarrassing to Johnson — if he were less clownish and more capable of embarrassment.

Not for the first time, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been unmasked and his true identity revealed: BoJo the Clown.

An official report released Monday confirms that while Britons were locked down under severe covid-19 restrictions, largely confined to their homes and prohibited from holding social gatherings, Johnson and his staff at 10 Downing Street were having alcohol-fueled parties. As far as Johnson is concerned, evidently, rules are for suckers. [ . . . ]

Continue at Washington Post: Opinion | The circus music is winding down for BoJo the Clown

British PM Boris Johnson hospitalized with COVID-19

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for COVID-19, was admitted to the hospital late Sunday. The prime minister has been in isolation at his residence next door to 10 Downing Street. The government says Johnson is running a high temperature and that the hospitalization is precautionary.

Special correspondent Ryan Chilcote joins Hari Sreenivasan from London with more.

Hear the report at NPR British PM Boris Johnson hospitalized with COVID-19