Boris vs. Neil: Why backing Boris is the way to go

Such a figure, when studied objectively is vastly more likely than others to unite the party and then defeat the furthest left Labour Party in memory.

Faced with the power of Andrew Neil, some like James Forsyth see Boris as having struggled against an interviewer who would make the drapes of Cicero’s toga ruffle. However, Boris demonstrated he is the candidate ready to deliver Brexit, unite the party, and defeat Corbyn’s Labour Party.

Let us first set the record straight on an aspect of technicality which created sparks. Pressed on the use of Paragraph 5b of Article 24 of GATT Neil secured a coup d’état to overthrow Johnsonian bamboozling … or thus it seemed. The segment on Paragraph 5c of Article 24 was an attempt to destabilise Boris. Boris’ charismatic riposte reveals that the facts counter the incessant claims that Paragraph 5c stops in its tracks a Boris Brexit. Paragraph 5c is not a significant obstacle to agreeing a GATT Article 24 stand-still with the EU. It does not require that a full free trade agreement has already been negotiated, merely that a plan and schedule are agreed between the EU and the UK.

Ultimately Boris is the only candidate committed to leaving the EU by October 31st, with or without a deal and with a plan to do so. In a stark contrast Hunt refused to commit to a date for Brexit; not by 31st October, not by Christmas, not by start of next year. One does not need to be a lexicographer to know that ‘believing’ in a possibility is not a statement of intent to deliver come what may.

A theme of this campaign is that Hunt’s supporters are keen to claim the care of patriotism as a Sovereign’s Orb for their candidate. Most notably over the debacle of Sir Kim Darroch’s resignation as Ambassador to the United States of America. Boris made crystal clear that it is the British Prime Minister who appoints our diplomats and that he personally backs our civil and diplomatic service and they need to be able to deliver frank advice unrestricted.

‘I think it’s absolutely vital that brilliant ambassadors like Kim are able to speak their minds without fear.’

To politicise this as it has been, is not only shabby point scoring that belittles political and intellectual discourse at the highest level in British governance, it is ultimately a mystification of the greater concerns that we should watch as closely as if we were Sauron’s eye hunting for the ring. The primary concern that requires collective focus is that this is an event caused by the leaking of confidential Foreign Office material and the culprit is the only soul who faces accountability for making Sir Kim’s position untenable.

‘The crucial thing now is that we hunt down whoever leaked his diptels and make sure that he or she is properly prosecuted because that is I’m afraid the real issue here. It’s absolutely disgraceful that a civil servants confidential advice to the govt and to ministers should have been leaked.’

If patriotism is the Orb then being an ‘entrepreneur’ is Hunt’s St. Edward’s Crown. As a champion in the arena of negotiation Hunt’s public service record includes the first ever all-out doctors’ strike that he recognises showed a terrible failing in his ability to communicate. He also claims credit for delivery of an additional £20 billion to the NHS, that he never campaigned for ahead of the 2016 referendum, and in the referendum itself he actively campaigned against it – indicating instead that in the event of a Leave vote there would be ‘less money for public services like the NHS‘. Since the referendum, and despite his current pledges to cut taxes (in particular for corporations), he had said the decision to Leave the EU and fund our NHS should mean tax rises.

When pressed on public service it became clear that Boris’ record stands like Goliath among the Philistine’s ranks and simultaneously like David, he delivers the winning blow. As the most successful Mayor London has had, he governed as a One Nation Tory to deliver a set of Olympic and Paralympic games that dazzled our senses and left a global legacy more prestigious than any others. The murder rate was decreased by 50% and crime by over 20%. Moreover, while lives were saved they were also improved by enabling Londoners to save financially through council tax reduction (see here and here).

His record as Foreign Secretary is also laudable. Boris rallied the world against Russia’s barbaric use of chemical weapons and an unprecedented 28 countries jointly expelled 153 Russian spies in protest. Furthermore, having chimed with the zeitgeist of environmentalism he personally prioritised the tackling of the ivory trade and made the UK a leader in shutting down live wildlife trading.

This culminates to show Boris is a cornucopia of a candidate. Able to deliver Brexit with a mandate from the majority of MPs and likely a strong majority from membership, Boris can then, as he has through his time in office, overdeliver to improve all our lots. Such a figure, when studied objectively is vastly more likely than others to unite the party and then defeat the furthest left Labour Party in memory.