The real problem with Boris Johnson's administration is Boris Johnson

Commentators must dispose of the first taboo and accept that the problem in Downing Street is Johnson. Johnson is the problem.

This week’s papers have been full of articles attempting to diagnose the problem with Boris Johnson’s administration.

Diagnoses have included:

• The fact he doesn’t have a reliable deputy

• The lack of experienced political operators in Number 10

• A malfunctioning whips office

• A lightweight policy team

• The lack of people willing to speak up to him in the Cabinet.

Some of his colleagues have even suggested that a simple holiday will solve the problems in Downing Street, as if the prime minister hadn’t had enough of those already this year.

Adam Bienkov @AdamBienkov

One Conservative MP tells me questions are now being raised about Boris Johnson’s health after his “bizarre” CBI speech. “Obviously you don't want to admit to a frailty, but if he’s ill then he should say ‘look I need a couple of days off’”. Boris Johnson is Addicted to Lying – But Now the Truth is Finally Catching Up with Him – Byline TimesThe Prime Minister’s reckless disregard for truth is starting to destroy trust among his own party and could soon be his downfall. Adam Bienkov reportsbylinetimes.com

November 24th 2021

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But what all of these diagnoses miss is the most obvious cause of Downing Street’s problems: Johnson himself.

The fish, as they say, rots from the head down. If Downing Street is dysfunctional it is because it has a dysfunctional leader. If the policies aren’t working, it is because the man in charge of devising them isn’t working. If the Cabinet is weak, it is because the person who has appointed them is weak.

In order to diagnose the real cause of the government’s troubles, commentators must dispose of the first taboo and accept that the problem in Downing Street is Johnson. Johnson is the problem.

The poor quality of the Johnson administration is not a bug, but a feature. No amount of new deputies, or policy chiefs, or chief whips will make any real difference as long as the current prime minister remains in place.

Johnson’s failings, which were so visibly expressed in his CBI speech last week, are not some sort aberration that can be solved by a long weekend away in Chequers. They are who he is and has always been.

As Barack Obama once famously said: “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.”

The problem is Johnson. Johnson is the problem.

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