Opinion

Boris Johnson should answer questions rather than hiding away

Boris Johnson has adopted a novel approach for a political campaign, deciding that hiding from the public and ducking difficult questions is the best way to attain the office of British prime minister.

As a strategy it appears to be working so far but given the importance of the role and the crisis facing the UK over Brexit, it is cynical in the extreme and deeply unedifying for a potential leader to dodge scrutiny over policies and plans that will affect millions of people.

We know this is all a ploy because Mr Johnson has not been shy in the past about putting himself in the public eye.

As well as his colourful and entertaining television appearances, unlike his fellow candidates he enjoys the privilege of a a regular and highly remunerated column in a daily newspaper where he can express his views on a range of issues and make extensive spending commitments that seem to have no regard for the economic realities.

There is no doubting the profile Mr Johnson enjoys. He has a recognition factor that cannot be matched by those challenging for the top job.

But while the other Tory leadership hopefuls are being properly challenged and are prepared to debate the issues and answer questions, the current frontrunner disdains to do the same.

He failed to appear on a Channel Four debate on Sunday night and did not turn up for a hustings event for political journalists in Westminster yesterday.

Mr Johnson is expected to take part in a BBC debate this evening but only after the field of candidates has been further reduced.

It is appropriate for him to be questioned on his record as London mayor and foreign secretary, where he made an appalling blunder in the case of British woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is being held prisoner in Iran.

Mr Johnson should also face questions about his character, his past actions and comments, accusations of laziness and worse and his general suitability for the job.

It may make little difference to the outcome but people are entitled to know what sort of person they are getting as prime minister.