Boris Johnson Challenges Public’s Lockdown Compliance in Memoir, Denies Mocking Attitudes

Boris Johnson refutes allegations of ridiculing the public for their alleged 'intense desire' for lockdown restrictions.

In his autobiography, the ex-prime minister ponders why citizens were "so eager to accept such meticulous restrictions on their activities" throughout the health crisis.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 4:

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Boris Johnson has refuted claims that he ridiculed the public for their intense adherence to lockdown guidelines, which they followed "as if it were a religious practice."

During a discussion on Sky News with Wilfred Frost, the ex-prime minister firmly denied showing any contempt for individuals who followed his government's directives during the COVID pandemic.

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In his autobiography titled Unleashed, Mr. Johnson discusses his experiences managing the resurgence of the virus during the fall of 2020 in one of the chapters.

He mentioned the "immense complexity" involved in implementing the tier system and questioned: "Why did the public so eagerly desire these regulations, and why were they so ready to accept their activities being so meticulously limited?"

He noted that the regulations functioned "as a sort of doctrine, with intricate rituals that were simply followed, resembling Leviticus, in anticipation of redemption."

When questioned whether his actions were a mockery of those who strictly adhered to the guidelines, or if they reflected contempt, Mr. Johnson responded, "I completely dismiss that notion."

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"Examining historical reactions to pandemics reveals a common trend: individuals often seek assertive government intervention and clear directives."

He mentioned that his argument addresses a core challenge in assessing the effectiveness of lockdown measures.

He explained that although a significant and respectable faction believed the regulations were excessive, the majority favored oversight and desired detailed instructions on what to do.

He mentioned that the desire for these regulations stems not from a lack of self-confidence in personal accountability, but rather from a concern about the reliability of others in their community.

Johnson expresses regret for Downing Street gatherings

Mr. Johnson expressed his regret to those troubled by the Downing Street Parties controversy, acknowledging in his memoir that it was a "mistake" to have issued such "grovelling" apologies for the incident.

He explained to Sky News that his intention was to "acknowledge the numerous errors made in managing that narrative", and by offering a "broad, general apology", it appeared to the public "as if he was admitting to every accusation that followed".

"He insisted, 'That wasn't my intention.'"

"Anyone who believes that the individuals in Number 10 deliberately intended to violate the rules and host parties is truly not thinking straight."

The Metropolitan Police handed out 126 penalties related to violations of regulations at Downing Street throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and a harsh critique from former government official Sue Gray highlighted a significant lack of leadership within the Prime Minister's office.

The Chris Pincher scandal signaled both the inception and the downfall of Mr. Johnson's tenure. Although he managed to scrape through a no-confidence vote, the subsequent scandal eroded his already tenuous support, leading to his inability to sustain his position.

Labour Sue Gray dispute labeled 'insignificant'

Mr. Johnson expressed his change of opinion regarding Ms. Gray, noting that he originally perceived her as a paragon of political neutrality and integrity when he appointed her to lead the investigation into the partygate scandal. However, his view altered when she later took a position as the chief of staff for Sir Keir Starmer.

When questioned whether he had a "wry smile" upon learning of her resignation from the position on Sunday after several weeks of adverse reports, he responded with a "no." He further commented that this issue is "minor compared to the mistakes Labour is making."

"By needlessly relinquishing control of the Chagos Islands and unnecessarily increasing taxes, they are currently committing major blunders."

Post-Brexit immigration increase reflects 'regaining sovereignty'

Discussing the shortcomings of his tenure, Mr. Johnson acknowledged that he adopted a presidential approach and failed to sufficiently engage with his backbench MPs.

No new apologies in Johnson's autobiography

Host

When Boris Johnson’s latest 750-page book, Unleashed, arrived at my door just three days before my scheduled interview with him, it brought to mind a humorous saying my late father often used: "it wasn’t that it was hard to put down, but rather, it was impossible to pick up."

I shared the same joke with Mr. Johnson when he came for his interview earlier today. He chuckled – I believe he was laughing along with me.

Frankly, it was a straightforward read. He consistently engages audiences, whether live or through his writing.

However, if you're seeking deep expressions of remorse for particular controversies that may have upset you – such as Brexit, Barnard Castle, Owen Paterson, or Partygate – you're probably not going to discover it.

Throughout both the book and the interview, he expresses the most regret about his governance style and his inability to maintain support among his MPs. He confessed to me that he acted more like a president than a prime minister.

He mentioned that when we met on October 7, he expressed concern that the world might overlook the true extent of the horror and evil inflicted on Israel that day.

He evidently prefers discussing international relations and commended Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his Churchill-like qualities, contrasting this with the West's earlier weakness before the invasion of Ukraine.

In his book, he shares that the late Queen Elizabeth counseled him against holding onto bitterness. However, it seems he may not have fully embraced her wisdom. How does he feel about Sue Gray's departure from government? "RIP," was his response.

When asked about the execution of Brexit and if there were ways it might have been improved, he didn't respond explicitly but mentioned that his book delves into the opportunities for the UK to adopt new approaches as a result of its departure from the EU.

When questioned about the rise in immigration following the implementation of his points-based system, despite assurances of reducing it, the ex-Conservative leader explained that this was due to a "desperate shortage of labor."

He mentioned that utilizing immigration to address these shortages was "beneficial for the nation," and reiterated his main catchphrase, stating "this is what it means to take back control."

"In the future, we will realize that we went too far that year, and will then be able to significantly scale back as I think we are currently doing, adopting a far more limited approach."

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