Future of Boris Johnson
AFTER surviving the party leadership vote, Johnson attempt to reset has failed. Opponents have discarded his planned speech as hot air and waffle.
Analysis shows that PM is unlikely to match ‘right to buy’ house revolution with annual rent subsidy.
Tory rebels are waiting for fresh vote of no confidence. Historically speaking, his fate will not be different from Thatcher, Major and May resigning within months after surviving the vote.
There is a consensus that party is over for Boris. Johnson’s cabinet members promise government will complete 2 years but it is widely believed that Conservative party has run of ideas after continuing in power for more than a decade.
It is a deeply divided party, mired in corrupt and facing poor governance. The result of two by-elections and Privileges committee report if confirming Johnson lied to the Commons will now destroy the party because they voted to keep him as party leader.
The chaos in ruling party is democratic opportunity for the opposition to win the next general election.
Labour, Lib Dems, SNP and would agree that morality, integrity and ministerial code of conduct have run their course.
They have to bring an election agenda to let public vote on it and the country moves on.
Keir Starmer needs to present his one-minute plan in bullet points with numbers so that public and political parties can make up their minds because election is imminent in UK.
PM has repeatedly said that we have delivered Brexit. It is not true. Over 70% Tory backbenchers, who voted against Johnson, are remainers.
Labour should support “fluid Brexit” after the pandemic so that voters have black and white choice.
It should support NI protocol and restore its pre-Brexit border with the EU. It will help Nicola Sturgeon review Party’s stand to call another referendum to join EU.
The move will restore peace and unity in the Union. In turn, it will help Labour and SNP make an energy alliance in the Center to increase fossil fuels in energy mix to cut living cost.
It will avoid Germany’s fate where FM Baerbock’s Green party coalition has become a foreign policy nightmare for Scholz in Ukraine war.
It is affecting gas imports from Russia, increasing energy prices and blocking use of nuclear power plants.
Labour and SNP should offer pre-Ukraine War energy prices under country first. On foreign policy front, Labour can use Northern Ireland and Good Friday Agreement to win support.
The move will cut Tory party’s bargaining power with Washington, Republicans and Brussels.
It will allow UK to have balanced relations with both EU and America starting with calling for end of Ukraine war to reduce cost of living.
It will stop populist PMs from clinging to power by manipulating unity of the Kingdom at the cost of parliamentary democracy.
Opposition should offer civilized solution to immigration. Johnson supported Brexit on the pretext of jobs, industrialization and independent foreign policy.
But the real plan was to appease extreme right wing of the party to stop immigrants, control judiciary and protect individual freedoms.
Opposition should align national policies in these areas with international laws and scrap Rwanda immigration center.
Government should let employers recruit workers to revive industry. It will create jobs, end shortage of labor and let the country control prices.
These are the factors, which should actually deliver leveling up, cut cost of living and end unemployment.
Labour should revive rail system to cut transport cost, pollution and housing shortages including rents.
Starmer should reverse HS2 Golborne link and give a realistic package for RMT including 11% inflation to help end the strike.
Corruption cases should be registered for highest train ticket prices in Europe, £16bn subsidy to private owners before government takeover.
Based on Pre-Brexit EU trade, Labour can give its economic growth plan. It should openly work with EU because the Conservatives are doing the same behind the door.
No economy can survive in a bubble.It has to trade with its neighbors, region and world at large. UK is no exception.
The Tories know it and Labour knows it. Now it all depends on the opposition to come before the public, give their trade policy with the EU.
Labour should give its tax policy. It should tax income and force Biden and EU to increase corporate tax to 35 percent, end tax havens, and money laundering to save economy.
Make public list of foreign owners owning 80% of London property. It will end housing shortage in the city fueling artificial increase in property prices, rents and shortage.
Link rents to inflation and give interest free house building loans to end housing crisis. To cut crime, Labour should allocate budget for legal aid, CPS, judges and investigators.
Settle cases of sexual assault, domestic violence and knife crime within 12 weeks. End drug mafias, improve policing and protect individual rights and freedoms including right to protest.
Opposition plan should show UK how it would improve economy, accountability and tax collection to improve life of public in parliamentary democracy instead of its leaders.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
