Should Boris Johnson Call a General Election: A Delicate Political Maneuver

Boris Johnson's recent victory in a 60% parliamentary party approval rating has placed him in a strong position. This high approval rating means that if he were to run for a leadership contest, he would likely win. Additionally, at least a year from now, no-confidence votes against him would not be possible. This effectively means that Boris Johnson is now 'bulletproof' in his leadership role.

The Political Context

The question of whether Boris Johnson should call a general election is a topic of considerable debate. Using the word 'should' is inherently tricky, as it imposes a set of moral or ethical expectations. What seems likely is that Johnson will not resign but will instead choose to continue his tenure as Prime Minister, especially if the rebels refuse to give up and continue to challenge his leadership.

Johnson has made public statements that he will not call a snap general election, but his history of breaking promises is well-documented. Calling a general election would be a bold and risky move, but it could also serve as a hard-core political maneuver to take out his rebellious party members. If the rebels manage to effectively align with the Labour party or alter the 1922 Committee rules to bring about another no-confidence vote, Johnson might feel compelled to take this drastic step.

The Political Game: Purging Rebels and Gaining or Losing

Should Johnson call a general election, it could almost entirely purge the Conservative party of dissenting voices. However, given the complex political landscape, he might face significant challenges. If he sees that the writing is on the wall and the probability of a loss is high, he might be willing to risk such an election to gain significant political leverage.

The decision to call a general election, while difficult, could present a strategic opportunity for Johnson. If the signs point to his inevitable downfall, he might feel he has nothing to lose and everything to gain by going for a full and final showdown with his opponents.

Debates over Johnson's Leadership

The ongoing debate over Boris Johnson's leadership is often more about the manufactured crisis created by the political manoeuvring than about the real issues facing the country. The public is largely tired of such internal political squabbles and wishes for the government to focus on weightier matters such as the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and the rebalancing of the British economy. Resources are being diverted to dealing with the bickering, and the public would prefer that these distractions be minimized.

My personal preference would be for Johnson to resign, but he has not made such a commitment. Other ongoing investigations into potential deliberate misrepresentation to Parliament are still pending, and it is clear that Johnson has already survived a no-confidence vote. It might be tempting to criticize Johnson for not resigning, but we must consider the limited options available and the circumstances in which Johnson might feel he has little to lose by calling a general election.

Ultimately, the best course of action for Johnson's detractors is to stop moaning and get on with their lives. The manufactured crisis they are creating is overshadowing the pressing issues that actually matter for the country. Let us focus on the bigger picture and move forward with a unified goal to address the significant challenges confronting the British people.