Boris Johnson and his Government have missed a glorious opportunity to transform British politics. Today, it is easy to forget how powerful Boris could have been after he won the last Election. He had a whole-Parliament majority and a united party; the first Tory leader in that position for almost thirty years. The great wrecking-ball of Europe, which had been fatal to four successive Tory Premierships, appeared to have been decommissioned. The Labour Party was in a mess – and as for the Liberals, they appear to have disappeared.
The Coronation offers a rare opportunity to reset the national narrative
British politics needs to return to being a clash of competing ideas and to stop being a contest about who can coin the snappiest soundbite.