Since the start of the 20th century, until today, nine British Prime Ministers had resigned from the highest political position in the kingdom. Just two of them were from the Labour Party, the infamous duo of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
On the Conservative list of those who stepped down, we find some big political hitters, although these tend to tail off to become ineffectual political careerists as we move into the 21st century. Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and David Cameron all fell on their respective swords, meaning that the last five British PMs have all jumped before they were pushed. Actually, make that 10 Prime Ministers and eight Tories.
Boris Johnson tendered his resignation today over a tawdry affair concerning a homosexual he promoted despite being aware (which he lied about) of the man's proclivities. Johnson's resignation speech was surprisingly jaunty, confirming my suspicions that he was getting bored with the job. He is a flighty, insubstantial man who has an estimated seven children with different women.
On the subject of women, Johnson's irritating wife will be vacating Number 10 Downing Street, which is a blessing. It is an ill-kept secret that she was the eminence grise behind a uxorious Johnson and tempted him into the absurd green nonsense that seemed to consume so much of his waking time.
He never really seemed as though he was that interested in the job, after the initial glamour faded. There is a sense with Johnson that he got to the top of the tree just because he thought he was fated to, but once there he found tenure dull and stressful. I suspect he misses the boozy lunches and office banter which would have been his environment when he was editor of Britain's oldest political magazine, The Spectator.
Johnson went through one of the standard routes for the upper classes entering politics, Eton College and Oxford University. Past Prime Ministers of note who attended the same two famous institutions include Cameron, Macmillan, Eden and Gladstone. Oxford and Cambridge are essentially Harvard and Yale but way, way older. These are the people who genuinely believe they were born to rule.
As to who the Conservative Party will foist on a weary public is anyone's guess. As recession starts to bite, as it surely will, the premiership may prove to be a poisoned chalice. On the other hand, the size of political egos can never be discounted, and the runners and riders are beginning to jostle in the stalls.
I was pleased to see Steve Baker announce that he may well run. Mr. Baker is a young man, plain speaking and energetic, and is actually a Conservative, which means that the deep state will never allow him anywhere near 10 Downing Street.
We will just have to wait and watch the latest chapter in Great Britain's decline.
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