Boris Johnson’s ambition is to be the Winston Churchill de nos jours, a prime minister of courage and flair who led the nation out of an acute crisis towards the “broad sunlit uplands” of peace and prosperity.

Boris Johnson’s ambition is to be the Winston Churchill de nos jours, a prime minister of courage and flair who led the nation out of an acute crisis towards the “broad sunlit uplands” of peace and prosperity.

But what if a better analogy is with Neville Chamberlain? What if the remarks of David Lloyd George, during the Parliamentary debate which brought Chamberlain down and paved the way for Churchill’s coalition, are equally applicable to the present government? The First World War leader declared: “The nation is prepared for every sacrifice so long as it has leadership, so long as the government show clearly what they are aiming at and so long as the nation is confident that those who are leading it are doing their best.” Neither of those conditions were being met in 1940. Nor are they in 2020.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

REGISTER

Subscribe for unlimited access

SUBSCRIBE NOW

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login