Lord says Boris Johnson is making the PM’s office an ‘adventure ground for one man’s narcissistic vanity’

Boris Johnson has been called a ‘great debaser of modern times’ who has ‘smeared’ the role of prime minister.

Addressing the The BBC Broadcasting House programhistorian and fellow Peter Hennessy responded to the Partygate scandal after Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined £50 this week for attending an event in Downing Street in June 2020 when social mixing was banned due to coronavirus restrictions.

Johnson apologized, paid the fine and said he did not think he was breaking the rules at the time, but Hennessy said Johnson had ‘misled’ Parliament when he claimed that he was following directions.

“I think we are in the most serious constitutional crisis involving a prime minister that I can remember. It goes to the heart of the prime minister’s character,” he said.

“Tuesday 12 April 2022 will forever be remembered as a dark and somber day for British public and political life. It was the day Boris Johnson became the great modern day degrader of the decency of public life and politics and our constitutional conventions.”

He added that Johnson ‘defiled’ the prime minister’s office ‘like no other, turning it into an adventure playground for one man’s narcissistic vanity’ and said he had ‘shredded the ministerial code “.

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“The Queen’s Prime Minister is now undoubtedly a Red Prime Minister, unworthy of her, her parliament, her people and her kingdom,” he added. “I can’t remember a day when I was more afraid for the well-being of the constitution.”

Reacting to his judgement, people thought he hit the nail on the head:

“The prime minister is the ultimate guarantor of decency. If he’s not prepared to do the decent thing according to the conventions of the ministerial code, why would anyone else do it?” The silent anger innPeter Hennessy’s voice speaks volumes about the despicable #BorisJohnsonn#bbcbh

— David Wright (He/Him) (@David Wright (He/Him)) 1650185478

“I can’t remember a time when I was more afraid of the future of the constitution” – Lord Peter Hennessy, due to appear this morning on #BroadcastingHouse @BBCRadio4

— susannah tarbush (@susannah tarbush) 1650182577

It’s actually painful to hear Peter Hennessy so upset about the state of our national political life on #BroadcastingHouse. What have we become, indeed.

— Louise, Prof/Dr, always wears a face covering (@Louise, Prof/Dr, always wears a face covering) 1650185170

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