UK Newspapers Conflicted Over Crowning of Boris Johnson as PM
UK's newspaper subeditors had ample time to compose the front pages that would mark a new era in British politics.
It was seen as a fait accompli weeks ago that Boris Johnson would beat his rival Jeremy Hunt to succeed Theresa May as Britain's next Brexit prime minister. In the meantime, headline writers have allowed their imaginations to run wild – tempered only by political affiliation.
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Accordingly, Johnson was broadly lampooned as a clown, denounced as a villain, or hailed as the new saviour of Brexit on Wednesday morning.
The left-leaning Daily Mirror, for example, focused on Johnson's reputation for jokey publicity stunts, and bemoaned the fact that he would be Number 10 Downing Street's next occupant.
"It's really not funny any more…" went the front-page headline.
Tomorrow's front page: It's really not funny any more...#tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/UfTfZfaWkV pic.twitter.com/T4S710urr9
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) July 23, 2019
Mirror political editor Pippa Crear questioned his ability to remain in office for long, citing Johnson's "wafer-thin" majority in parliament, his hardline pledges on Brexit, and a "deeply divided" Conservative Party.
"Mr Johnson will need more than luck,” she added.
Meanwhile, the right-of-centre Daily Express gleefully pronounced Johnson's imminent arrival in the top job as a wind of change.
"Hang on to your hats…Here comes Boris!”
Here is tomorrow's @Daily_Express #frontpage:
- EU bureaucrats be warned, here comes #BorisJohnson
- New PM to appoint Cabinet showcasing 'all the talents'
- Boris vows to work 'flat out'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LG9CxX9UxO— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) July 23, 2019
"EU bureaucrats and doom-mongers be warned," the front-page strapline advised.
The newspaper's political editor Macer Hall looked forward to the establishment of a "Cabinet for Modern Britain." He predicted new roles for women and those from ethnic minorities, in a government that would "showcase all the talents."
The Daily Telegraph, which has been foremost in cheerleading for Johnson, a former correspondent and hitherto columnist, recalled Johnson's victory speech.
"I'm the dude," said the headline, referring to Johnson use of the word in a quip during his address to party colleagues.
The front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph: 'Prime Minister Johnson to appoint Brexiteer Cabinet as he spends his first 100 days in No 10 focusing solely on leaving the EU on October 31' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/CQbhLqQ2UL
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 23, 2019
The newspaper featured a full-length photo of Johnson delivering a trademark wacky salute. It also carried a column from former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, whose Brexit Party has offered to work with the Conservatives to deliver Britain's exit from the EU by the end of October.
"With my party's help, we can resolve Brexit," Farage opined.
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The traditionally left-wing Guardian newspaper posed a question in its headline.
"An ambition is fulfilled. But what next for Britain?"
The Guardian front page, Wednesday 24 July 2019: An ambition is fulfilled. But what next for Britain? pic.twitter.com/OPrzN143d7
— The Guardian (@guardian) July 23, 2019
Guardian columnist Rafael Behr said Britain warned that Johnson could prove ineffective in office, but be difficult to dislodge.
"Recent history offers ample proof that incompetent leadership can endure with the help of a ruthless praetorian guard, a regiment of loyal fans and disorganized enemies," said Behr.
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Nowhere was the split on Johnson better summed up than by the Sun and its sister newspaper in Scotland. England's best-selling tabloid The Sun riffed excitedly on the Beatles classic "Hey Jude” with a splash headline "Hey Dude!"
Tomorrow’s Sun pic.twitter.com/pRBHfXj9uz
— steve hawkes (@steve_hawkes) July 23, 2019
"Bring on Boris," the paper's main editorial declared excitedly.
"Boris Johnson now has a thumping mandate from his party and the potential to be a fantastic Prime Minister. But his task is monumental — and he has to be smarter about it than his predecessor," ran the editorial.
However, the Scottish Sun took a different tone, given that Johnson, and Brexit, poll far less well with voters, and readers, north of the border.
While the English edition basked in Johnson's moment of glory – "Bojo is our new PM!" – its Scottish version adopted a Disney "Toy Story" theme to warn of "Blundering Bojo" and "No Deal Chaos."
The Sun and Scottish Sun perfectly by accident sum up the chaos and conflict of these times pic.twitter.com/GQonIp3Ykn
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) July 23, 2019
While the UK as a whole voted narrowly in favour of leaving the EU, Scotland voted by a considerable margin to stay in the bloc.
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon vowed to work to block Johnson's plan for a no-deal Brexit, "which would do catastrophic harm to Scotland."
This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle.
This article went live on July twenty-fourth, two thousand nineteen, at twelve minutes past twelve at noon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
