Can Britain's Tories recover from Boris Johnson's 'reckless' leadership? | Conflict Zone

Boosterism, buffoonery, bluster – all synonymous, even for many Conservatives, with Britain’s outgoing premier.

How did so many in his party come to see these as the traits of a successful leader? And why did they indulge it for so long before removing Boris Johnson as the head of their party?

“I never thought he should have been prime minister in the first place. He was the wrong person here,” says Sir Malcolm Rifkind – a view he says is shared by a “large minority” of Conservatives.

Rifkind, a senior Conservative and a former foreign and defence secretary, spoke to DW’s Tim Sebastian in London on 20 July.

Tory Party members will now choose between two former supporters of Johnson’s leadership bid to lead their party and become the next British prime minister.

Can the UK expect more of the same in 10 Downing Street?

Conflict Zone is Deutsche Welle's top political interview. Every week, our hosts Tim Sebastian and Sarah Kelly are face to face with global decision-makers, seeking straight answers to straight questions, putting the spotlight on controversial issues and calling the powerful to account.

Follow DW on social media:

#Johnson #Tories #Britain

[rachelkristine]

Holy Macaroni. If any of our reputable journalists had done the same kinda job as this dude just did with this line of questioning, maybe the US wouldn't have ended up in this mess to begin with. This is more like an interrogation! 🤣

[lucasjames]

OMG someone actually with Tim in the newsroom! This was an excellent, top quality interview. Tim Sebastian is absolutely the best.

[davidoldboy]

Amazing, the best and most honest appraisal of British politics is on a foreign news outlet, well done.

[neuralkernel]

Wow... it's like "Yes Minister" but without any wit or humour.

[hardway_]

Just discovered this excellent news channel; Tim Sebastian must be among the best interviewer / journalist I’ve seen - watching the way he handles this supercilious stuffed shirt is about as brilliant as I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Would sub twice if I could

[bugsygoo]

Come on Malcolm. He shouldn't have been made leader in the first place. That's what condemns the Tories. It's not as if he wasn't a known quantity.

[PG-wzby]

Saying Johnson didn't behave as badly as Trump is a low bar and not a strong defense.

[PEdulis]

"The Conservative Party has enjoyed the confidence of the British electorate for 32 of the past 50 years." Not really. It only came into power again and again because British elections are not really democratic but use "first past the post" where the Tories even keep changing the boundaries between constituencies to create even more safe seats for them. That way, a minority of the voters can generate a majority for the Tories. Unless the UK changes to proportional representation, their elections cannot really be called democratic and a statement like the above by Sir Malcolm Rifkind is simply false.

[anthonydavinci]

Great Interview, , EXCELLENT Answers feel the honesty and Integrity ....Compared to Most American politicians and media here, , , getting slapped in the face with the utter Sleez..

[jamesoakley]

the main problem is (yes no written constitution) but First Pass The Post voting system.
doesn't matter who you vote for, because the Tory party is so big it'll always be first pass the post, it's why they have been in power for nearly 15 years

[DurokSubaka]

Oh for Christ sake it’s over just move on will you

[LeanAndMean]

The question should be whether Britain itself can recover from Boris, not whether the Tories can. The Tories are not victims.

[shawnsam]

I really love your program I am learning so much from our program, I let my kids listen to your program for education purpose

[waldemarkirszniok]

-Direct question
-"You're using words I don't find easy to retort"

[ThePereubu]

Rifkin hasn't changed since he was a bloody awful Minister!

[mikeoxweld]

Not a chance if Sunak becomes PM

Rishi Sunak was part of a small team of hedge fund bosses who shared nearly £100m after an audacious stock market bet that lit the touchpaper on the 2008 financial crisis.

The ex chancellor was a partner at the hedge fund TCI when it launched an activist campaign against the Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007, resulting in its sale to the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

The deal loaded RBS, at the time led by Sir Fred Goodwin, who was stripped of his knighthood in 2012, with crippling debt and led to a £45.5bn government bailout.

Source: The Sunday Times

[TashHag]

"Enjoyed the confidence of the British public"...er, methinks he means had to put up with due to no real opposition

[ED-nils]

He actually meant “ hasta le vista, I’m going to make another baby “

[Alan-clix]

Trump, Boris Johnson, LePen, Greek Golden Dawn, Salvini, all 2015-16 western madness politicians gone.

[HyacinthFlwer]

So if Sir MR said here that Heads of Departments usually resign if they don’t agree with, eg, a policy or how it is implemented. So at least some of those people within the BJ Govt should have resigned - if they were decent thinking, eg, selfless to some degree. But they all seem to be less interested in decency and more interested in keeping hold of their membership card of the WIIFM Club. (“What’s in it for me.”)