Boris the pariah must be stoned to death, er, metaphorically!

I don't know why it took me so long to dislike Matthew Parris.  Perhaps because previously my admiration for him was so 'yuuuuuuge', for so long!  He is an excellent writer and many of his perceptions are shrewd, and yet, and yet . . .  I can't remember when, exactly, nor why I began to go off him. Perhaps I finally caught that slight whiff of de haut en bas that permeates some of his writings.  This week in 'The Speccie' he has fired a broadside into Boris Johnson's campaign to take over as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative party.  Nothing wrong in that, it is the stuff of politics but Parris comes over like some eye-ball swivelling preacher as he berates his former Tory colleagues in Parliament for even considering for a second supporting 'Boing-Boing Boris' as leader:

It’s just that there are limits, and I thought we knew them: things you would not do, causes you would not join, people you would not praise in hope of preferment or fear of whips’ blackmail. And if you had asked me a year ago to suggest a test for these limits in contemporary British politics, I would have proposed Mr Johnson, that bridge too far. Indeed I did. On many occasions I’ve assured worried friends that there was no way his colleagues would send him forth to be blessed by the national Tory membership on his way to Downing Street. They knew him too well.

They still do. There’s no need for further evidence about this man. And the fact there’s no need is the reason for the most profound despair. The case is proved already, his allies privately concede it without demur, and more proof is redundant. Colleagues know he’s no good, know he’s a cold-eyed scoundrel.  [My emphasis]

There is a powerful undercurrent of old-fashioned morality emanating from his onslaught which is a bit rich coming from a man who, according to his Wiki entry, "He was once beaten up on Clapham Common whilst in the process of looking for sex with men there."  Well, each to his own but somehow I doubt that he confessed this to his constituents when seeking election to Parliament!  In any event, his attack was not based on Boris's  sexual morality but his politics.  Boris is a Brexiteer (how much of one we will discover shortly!) and that is anathema to the 'Klingons' who worship at the shrine of Brussels.  You could be a model of probity and decorum in Parris's view but if you even hint that you favour an independent Britain then you are damned forever.

How glad I am that Parris is no longer a Tory MP.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Whitewall]

His detractors are trying hard?
"SHOCKER: A BOGUS #METOO CLAIM AGAINST A POPULAR CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN. Police called to Boris Johnson flat after neighbour reportedly heard screaming. Bottom line: “There were no offences or concerns apparent to the officers and there was no cause for police action.” Instapundit.com

[Pat]

Indeed. There was once a time when homosexuality was not merely an absolute bar to advancement, but also a bar to entry into anything other than a prison. I would be interested to hear Mr. Parris defend that standard.
I would further propose that much as the people would prefer their politicians to be pillars of rectitude, they are more moved by proponents of favoured policy.
It would appear that all those honourable members are unaware of that.

[Whyaxye]

Something dodgy about the Boris row case. Neighbours record the whole thing, note the numbers of the police cars attending, and contact the Guardian. What's the betting the Graun will release the tapes just before the final vote?

[Glesga]

The Guardian Watch keeper was on sleeping duty awaiting the expected rehearsed call.