Is the Referendum debate getting too dirty?

I have rarely read a more blatant piece of character assassination than a recent article by Matthew Parris in The Times about Boris Johnson,¹ whom Parris described as "a dangerous charmer".

Parris began his article by referring to Johnson as "an essentially liberal minded fellow Tory...who has never been anything but friendly to me". He said, "I feel uncomfortable writing like this: writing about a fellow columnist, my former Spectator editor".

The discomfort Parris claimed to feel did not discourage him from indulging in a withering political and personal execution of a man whom he claims to have been a friend and colleague over many years. He warns:

There is a pattern to Boris's life, and it isn't the lust for office, or for applause, or for susceptible women, that mark out this pattern in red warning ink. It is the casual dishonesty, the cruelty, the betrayal; and, beneath the betrayal, the emptiness of real ambition: the ambition to do anything useful with office once it is attained.

Is this the depths to which we have sunk in Britain in the EU Referendum debate? Is this the opening salvo of a dirty war as politicians and commentators plumb the depths of insult in an attempt to further their views on whether or not Britain should remain within the European Union? Are we to be treated to slanging matches between politicians that will make Donald Trump look like a Sunday School teacher gently rebuking noisy children?

Slanging Matches

Can we expect protagonists on both sides of the Referendum battle to take the opportunity for working out their personal antagonisms against anyone who opposes their views? Matthew Parris has never forgiven Boris for opposing the repeal of Section 28 proposed by Labour and stoutly resisted by Margaret Thatcher (Section 28 made it illegal for local authorities to 'promote homosexuality' in schools). Parris is quite open about his own homosexuality but according to Dominic Lawson in the Daily Mail² there may be another influence behind his intemperate outburst.

Is this the opening salvo of a dirty war as politicians and commentators plumb the depths of insult in an attempt to further their own EU agendas?

Lawson says that Parris's partner used to be David Cameron's speech writer and what Parris wrote in his Times column may be a reflection of the fury in 10 Downing Street that Boris is backing Brexit. It all gets more complicated and increasingly nasty as Ross Clark in The Spectator noted when he said that "Boris can be a slimy opportunist...But show me a top politician who isn't!"³ Clark nevertheless believes that Boris is genuine in his desire to see Britain come out of the European Union.

Underlying Agendas

As we get closer to the Referendum it seems as though we can expect a lot more Boris bashing and personal insults on both sides of the argument. The big question will be: what will Boris do after 23 June? If Brexit triumphs and Cameron is humiliated it will surely not be long before Boris makes a play for the top job. If Britain votes to stay in the EU it will be Boris who will be humiliated, but keen political observers say that this will not stop his bid to succeed the PM, it will only delay it.

So is Matthew Parris right in exposing the character weaknesses of Boris Johnson at a time when it is becoming increasingly likely that the Conservative Party will turn to him in their search for a leader who can take over from David Cameron? Or is Parris simply reflecting the undeserved ire of 10 Downing Street that Boris is not backing the main party line?

Unfulfilled Promises

I do not dispute some of the criticisms levelled at Boris by his critics. Indeed, I too have suffered disappointment at his hands. In the run-up to the London Mayoral election in 2008, Boris and his agent persistently chased me for a meeting, but I was reluctant to get involved in electioneering. I knew that his objective was to gain the black minority votes in inner-city London boroughs. His interest in me was because of my links with leaders in the African and Caribbean communities.

Eventually terms were agreed that my concerns for the young unemployed and underachieving school children would be discussed. We met in a scruffy office in the old LCC building on the south side of the Thames. I outlined the project I was working on following the Zong slave-ship project at Tower Pier, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. That was a project which had been warmly supported by Ken Livingstone, the outgoing Mayor, who was also interested in the follow-up.

It seems increasingly likely that the Conservative Party will turn to Boris in their search for a leader, whether or not Britain votes to leave Europe.

Boris was polite and attentive and quick with his humour. He made all the right noises and gave promises in response to my concerns for the black communities. Eventually I agreed to use my influence in persuading community and church leaders to attend a Westminster meeting where he would speak. Many leaders came to that meeting and Boris spoke well.

The May 2008 vote in the election for Mayor of London surprised the pundits by the level of support for Boris in the inner-city boroughs, especially from the black population. But what happened to the promises of support for community work among young people suffering from high levels of social deprivation in inner-city London boroughs?

Community leaders and church leaders are still waiting to see those promises fulfilled – even after a second term! I personally bear no ill-will towards Boris. I simply count my experience as typical of the low standards of political promises among politicians today.

Pray for Boris?!

But, what about the future for Boris as he steps down next month after eight years as Mayor of London? No doubt there will be historians in a much better position than I am to assess his achievements. But I would like to go on record of saying that while I am glad he is supporting the view that Britain would be better outside the European Union, I nevertheless would fear for the future of Britain if Boris Johnson ever becomes Prime Minister – whether in or out of the EU!

I certainly believe Boris to be a man of immense ability as well as charm – if only he had a faith in God to give him the purpose and direction he lacks. Perhaps, if everyone who reads this article would stop for a moment and pray for him, it would make an impact on his life. What a great man of God he could be!

Boris is a man of immense ability as well as charm - if only he had a faith in God to give him purpose and direction. Will you stop and pray for him?

Does this not also say something to us about the biblical injunction to pray for our leaders – which most of us neglect? In a very real sense we get the leaders we deserve. Back in the mid-20^th Century it was fashionable among evangelicals to advise their children against going into politics because it was a "dirty business". So committed Christians left the field wide open to secular humanists. The results can be seen today. Perhaps before bashing Boris and others like him, a bit of repentance among Christians should come first!

References

1 Parris, M. Tories have got to end their affair with Boris. The Times, 26 March 2016.

2 Lawson, D. DOMINIC LAWSON: I was betrayed by Boris, too. And like everyone else, I can't help forgiving him. The Daily Mail, 28 March 2016.

3 Clark, R. In defence of Boris Johnson. The Spectator, 27 March 2016.