Plan B Forum

After a couple of dreadful weeks (sleaze and more sleaze, confessions of his lady friend who benefited from his capacity as Mayor of London, illicit Downing Street parties during Covid lockdown, and much else) Boris Johnson's conservatives lost the safest of safe seats to the Liberal-Democrats. North Shropshire had been Tory since about 1830 apart from two years in the 19-oughts when they went wild) and two years ago the Tory guy was elected with a majority of 23,000. I.e., a massively safe seat. Thursday's by-election saw this overturned with a Lib Dem majority of about 6,000.

Of course it will revert to its usual Tory self next time there is a general election but this was undoubtedly a message to BloJo. Whether he has the nous to see it and understand it is another matter. But if there is any justice, he is on his way out. The Tories cannot ignore this.

Worse thing that could happen for the left in the UK is the Tories to get shot of Boris.

Some on the left seem to think that getting rid of Johnson is a good thing. He needs to be kept in place as long as possible, definitely until the next election, for the left to have any hope.

If he goes he'll be replaced by Rishi Sunak. Should that happen the Tories will have a whipping boy to blame all their bad things on, and a charming and presentable replacement to sell to the electorate. Far better Johnson leads them into the next election, surely?

Also the trouble is, no matter how bad the Tories are perceived, there is no credible or electable opposition in waiting.

No matter how badly things go for the Tories, until we have a Labour/Lib Dem/Green opposition, one with policies and plans which make them electable, the Tories will stay in power. For at least a decade I would think.

Labour will infight itself to death, Lib Dems will be as wishy-washy as ever, and the Greens will be frankly barking.

I don't disagree with your post Gob - except maybe the last four words - because it is, for the time being at least, pragmatic.

The European Greens and AOC in this country with the Green New Deal are the last best hope for the planet. It won't happen of course until it's far too late.

That aside, the headline in the Guardian is

Boris Johnson says he 'accepts the verdict' and takes responsibility for 'very disappointing' result

Well he hasn't got much choice about accepting it (despite his shortcomings which are major, he is not a Trump) because the count was so emphatic. As for taking responsibility, there was a time, in those far off and quaint days of yore, when taking responsibility meant "I'll get my coat and see myself out." Otherwise it's just words, which he is quite good at. But as you say, if he goes Sunak will take over and he has the presentability to keep it going until the next general election which will be 2024.

The Greens over here are tying themselves up in knots over ...guess what...