New Zealand should have a head start in revitalising its relationship with a post-Brexit Britain if Boris Johnson steps into 10 Downing Street.
NZ’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters reckons he’s already established mateship with Johnson. He told TVNZ’s Q&A programme Johnson “likes NZ and likes NZ politicians”.
Moreover when he was Foreign Secretary Johnson re-engaged with the Pacific.
And, significantly, Johnson and Peters share a mutual admiration of the qualities of leadership of the UK’s greatest Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Peters got his first name from Churchill while Johnson wrote a book on Churchill (though curiously in his foreword to “The Churchill Factor” the pronoun “I” occurs 33 times). Peters has an autographed copy.
Johnson is undoubtedly an engaging character, though some of his neighbours appear to be less certain about his particular charms.
And it is interesting to study Johnson’s CV which some London journals have mentioned in recent days. New Zealanders might find it implausible for a successful politician.
Or not.
Here is one version:
Sacked as a trainee at the Times for inventing a quote, Brussels correspondent at the Telegraph (famously flexible with the truth), columnist (including a spot in GQ writing about cars), editor of the Spectator (until he was sacked), MP for Henley, Have I Got News for You host, fired from the shadow Cabinet for having an affair and lying about it, Mayor of London (and sponsor of crap projects: illegal water cannon, infernal Routemaster bus, insane Garden Bridge, entirely unused Thames cable car), elected MP again, big-money author, foreign secretary: Prime Minister? .
Still, there is always scope for re-invention, as Peters’ own career might attest.
