Opinion

Chris Donnelly: It might be goodbye Boris, but the clowns are still in charge

Chris Donnelly
Chris Donnelly Chris Donnelly

THERE will be few political leaders who leave such a sorry legacy of corruption, incompetence and reckless indifference to the responsibilities and burden of leadership as Boris Johnson.

That his tenure in office would end with a self-serving pitch to be remembered as a modern-day Cincinnatus is not surprising for, in his mind, he has been grievously treated by ungrateful colleagues in a world that simply does not appreciate his greatness. Devoid of self-awareness, this particular Icarus would expect the sun to move from his flight path.

Liz Truss is leading a Conservative Party trailing Labour in the polls and a cabinet devoid of Rishi Sunak supporters, facing into a winter of discontent fuelled (pardon the pun) by an energy crisis, economic woes and growing anger amongst ordinary people about cost of living pressures.

Her margin of victory in the Tory leadership contest, and underwhelming support amongst party colleagues, confirms the existence of a sizeable body of opinion in the Conservative heartlands – and, more critically, on the backbenches – which is far from convinced that she will successfully navigate them through the gathering storm.

Chris Heaton-Harris’s name can be added to the long list of mediocre British politicians compelled to slum it in a land they will surely have secretly wished time and Britain had long forgotten, spouting patronising drivel and resenting every moment whilst pining for a one-way ticket and promotion back to London.

Harris is joined by another former ERG chair in Steve Baker, a brace of one-time Boris-backing Brexiteers now hitched to the Truss wagon. Aren’t we lucky to call them our own.

In a visit to the north last March, Baker asserted that the protocol had “divided communities” and “ended power-sharing”, a typically Tory diversion from the truth, which of course is that Brexit created the divide and the DUP walking from government led to Stormont’s suspension, not the protocol.

US Congressman Brendan Boyle was far from alone in expressing concern at the appointments, but it was left to the SDLP’s Claire Hanna to find the right words, labelling Baker’s appointment as both ‘obnoxious’ and a ‘red flag’.

Ironically, this move may yet prove an ominous one for the DUP.

Moving a number of ERG hardliners into a position where they may have to own and sell a compromise deal well short of what the DUP have declared to be acceptable will not make the Little England Brexiteers of the ERG lose any sleep.

After all, it was the same Steve Baker, as chairperson of the ERG, who delivered a speech urging members to back Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement three years ago in spite of the opposition of DUP representatives.

It might be goodbye Boris, but the clowns are still firmly in charge. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

The salutary lesson in all of the sorry happenings in this Brexit era for those of us in Ireland is clear: a better way remains possible.

The surge in support and interest for constitutional change in Ireland has been remarkable in the six years since the Brexit referendum, and the momentum is only going to build as the political class across the island (political unionism apart) reaches a consensus on the need for decisive preparations.

The Ireland’s Future conference, scheduled for October 1 in the 3 Arena in Dublin, promises to be the biggest and most significant to date, with big hitters from across the political realm confirming attendance as well as other prominent names and faces from the worlds of business, the arts and the media.

At the same time, the renowned academic Brendan O’Leary has published Making Sense of A United Ireland, a weighty book in which he explores the different options for unity advocates whilst concluding firmly that the era of serious and credible planning is now upon us.

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Within minutes of confirmation of the British monarch’s passing last week, the First Minister in waiting, Michelle O’Neill, sent out condolences in a statement that struck precisely the right chord.

Only a few months ago, the northern Sinn Féin leader sent Queen Elizabeth II a letter to congratulate her on reaching her platinum jubilee, while she also wore a black outfit in the Assembly after Prince Philip’s passing in a striking manner to send a clear message both of solidarity to the people of Britain and to demonstrate in a visible way how the developing vision of an agreed and united Ireland very clearly involves recognising the British identity of a unionist community that will retain a strong affinity to the British monarchy well after unity is achieved.

Leadership matters.