Jim, Liz was never up to the job. Like Penny she didn’t have the clout or the experience but aspired to heights far beyond her capabilities. You’re pretty much saying that if Penny pussyfoots she could last, but in the wake of Covid and the war in Ukraine and all the problems they have caused we can’t have a prime minister being obliged to tread on eggshells - or incapable of doing anything other than that - or too afraid to do anything else. We need a proper leader - someone strong and experienced who can and will do what’s necessary, and one who, despite criticism, isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done - and Boris has more than proven himself well and truly capable of that.
Unfortunately, although it should be, the Tory Party is not currently bigger than one man and that is why it is visibly self-destructing. Big men are capable of rising above pettiness and spitefulness, and are even capable of rationalising other people’s mistakes, but unfortunately for this country big men are at a premium on all sides within the walls of Westminster and among much of the media. To make no bones about it, we, I am afraid, are landed with a bunch of big girls’ blouses with not a genuine
backbone between them.
I know you don’t understand my loyalty to Boris, but that’s because you don’t understand that I utterly detest witch hunts - whoever the victim - and I’m not seeking to destroy anyone on any conveniently trumped up charge that presents itself. That is entirely against my principles and in the face of that, I would defend my worst enemy. I don’t expect you ever to understand it.