Boris Johnson hummed Addams Family theme, called allies 'The Munsters'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Website
19 Sep 2023 11:45

As detailed in a book by Ben Riley-Smith, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson bragged about being supported by whom he called "sex pests".

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends the Yalta European Strategy Forum in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 (AP)

In a recent book by Ben Riley-Smith, the political editor at The Telegraph, titled The Right to Rule, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been described as being repulsed by his political allies and supporters, The Guardian reported.

Johnson is said to have described his allies as "The Munsters" and humorously hummed the Addams Family theme tune while discussing them.

Johnson's alleged remarks, which his office has denied, shed light on his humorous but often controversial interactions with fellow lawmakers. According to the book, Johnson, who had returned to the Conservative back benches in July 2018, joked about having "cornered the market in sex pests" among his supporters.

The book reveals that these alleged remarks were hinted at during Johnson's final questioning by MPs at the powerful Commons liaison committee before his resignation as prime minister in July. When asked if he had said, "All the sex pests are supporting me," Johnson did not deny it.

Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister ended due to a series of scandals, including his handling of the Chris Pincher case, a close ally who resigned from parliament after losing an appeal against an eight-week suspension for sexual misconduct.

The book portrays Johnson as an isolated figure on the back benches, unable to build a substantial support base. Riley-Smith writes that Johnson was scathing in private about the caliber of MPs who supported him, referring to them as "political offcuts" and even humorously likening them to "The Munsters", referencing the TV show featuring Frankenstein and other ghoulish characters.

Furthermore, the book claims that Johnson sought to disregard the fiscal forecasts of the Office of Budget Responsibility before his first budget, a move that contributed to his strained relationship with Chancellor Sajid Javid. Johnson's proposal to ignore OBR forecasts was rejected by Javid, who warned that it would be an "absolute disaster".