If I had a free vote to choose our next Prime Minister, I'd quite possibly cast it for Nigel Farage, not because he'd make a great Prime Minister, he might or might not, but because he does seem to have a clear message. However, I don't have such a vote and so I'm left to ponder as to whether I'd prefer Boris Johnson to Jeremy Hunt, for neither of whom do I have a vote either.
Boris Johnson has been fairly consistent in his opposition to the European Union over the last 3 or 4 years and has campaigned to get the UK out of its clutches. Jeremy Hunt, on the other hand, campaigned to remain in the European Union but is a recent convert to the cause of 'Leave', becoming ever more convinced and ardent as the days go by. The Remainer has gradually moved to a position of Leave, then 'No Deal', and to a range of contingency arrangements in the event of a 'No Deal' exit on 31st October. It seems to me that Mr Hunt is doing his best to move to a position which mirrors that of the majority of Conservative Party members, rather than being a principled politician.
The real problem is that while Mr Hunt seems to be vacillating, Mr Johnson remains a rather unknown and possibly unreliable quantity. Is Johnson's Euroscepticism real or just a ploy to gain votes and the Premiership ? Is Mr Hunt's vacillation no more than the same ? Does either actually have a principled position or are both just doing whatever they think will gain them the top job ?
Sadly, I'm driven to the view that both are politicians doing no more than saying whatever they believe will serve their own egotistical purposes. Neither has any real principles and both are likely to disappoint their supporters, particularly with regard to Brexit. Mr Johnson may be a very clever scholar who knows his Latin and Greek, but he also comes across as a bit of a buffoon, even if he is an apparently charming and attractive public personality. Mr Hunt is a suave and apparently efficient businessman, as he keeps telling us, who would be a 'safe pair of hands'; he knows how to negotiate with the European Union, or so he says. Hunt is undoubtedly also a clever and well educated man, but is he any more trustworthy than Mr Johnson, particularly given his varying position on Brexit ?
The truth is that I don't trust either of these two, any more than I trust any other politician. Johnson may be more likely to deliver a meaningful Brexit, but will he ? Hunt is more likely to deliver a fudge, which is quite probable. Johnson may lead us to a general election in the autumn, Hunt less likely so; either may decide on a second referendum. Forget the expansive promises of tax cuts for individuals and business, none of them are real; both will commit vastly more resources to assorted social causes and will avoid tackling the question of personal responsibility for our lives. Both will make all manner of grandiose statements about tackling crime, poverty, immigration - you name it, they'll promise to solve it. All bollocks, and as ineffectual as have been all governments over the last 30 or more years..
Neither is a true conservative, both are what might be termed vaguely centre-right, with socialist leanings. Truly, I'm not sure I care which one wins as I don't expect much from either; the one thing I'm sure of is that whoever it is, must make bloody sure they don't screw things up and let the other Jeremy, Corbyn of that ilk, into Downing Street. That would be a true catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions.
And so, I have to side with Boris Johnson for the simple reason that I think his more charismatic character is more likely to be able to carry the day in the event of an early general election. Eyes shut tight, fingers and toes crossed, nose firmly held.
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