Stop Boris

I caught the beginning on Any Questions on BBC Radio 4 whilst driving today. The first question was to the effect of what did the panel think about the prospect of appointing the British equivalent of Donald Trump as Prime Minister? The audience went wild with raucous cheering, whistling and general whooping at the announcement of the question which Dimbleby appeared quite content to continue to make the point of the popularity of the subject. The first panellist was castigating in her criticism and cheered at every turn by the fired-up assembly. When Andrew Mitchell attempted, very moderately, to point out some of Boris’ strengths, he was howled down with cries of derision.


Matthew Parris, who claims to be a Conservative, rehearsed the line he had taken in his article in the Times today. Parris claims that Boris’ current parliamentary support is “cowardly and preferment-seeking” but that “the real grown-ups,” the national membership will see through Boris’ failings and elect someone else; Gove Hunt or Stewart hopes Parris.


I think Parris’ analysis is wrong and wishful thinking. He misses the obvious motive that, whatever happens over our relationship with the EU, a general election is likely. MPs are holding their noses and backing Boris because he is the most likely to win. MPs are not backing Boris, selfishly, in anticipation of preferment, although, no doubt, they should be suitably grateful in due course. The simple truth is that Boris is the Conservative Party’s best chance of stopping Corbyn. Er, that's it, as they say in Private Eye.


Turning to Parris’ hopes that the discerning membership will see through Boris and select someone of substance like Gove, Stewart and Hunt, he may well have a point. Last time round, as a Conservative Party member, I was branded a swivel eyed loon and quite unfit to choose the next PM. I objected and was just about to be invited to speak on Radio Five Live when everything changed and the producer thanked me for waiting and cut to Graham Brady who announced the coronation of Mrs May. But if the Conservative Party Membership was branded quite unfit to select a future Prime Minister in 2016, what is it that Matthew Parris has discovered that causes him to conclude that the membership are no longer extreme loons but have become the real grown-ups? Or is this just more of the increasingly bitter Parris’ wishful thinking?