BORIS Johnson is flexing his Trumpian credentials yet again – though his remarks might well be set to backfire.
The Prime Minister is battling to save his job with a confidence vote looming, much as Donald Trump had to after losing the US election, when he turned to every trick in the book in a bid to remain as president.
Now, according to The Times, Johnson has been endlessly repeating the word “Onwards!” to rally his Tory troops, and one senior adviser said: “He’s making very clear that they’ll have to send a Panzer division to get him out of there.”
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That remark has been met with a flurry of comparisons to Trump’s refusal to exit the White House – with it seeming like the Secret Service would need to physically remove him.
Boris Johnson reckons it’ll take a tank division to get him out of Downing Street. Is that an invitation? Blimin heck. He’s sounding more like a pound land Trump by the day.
— derek bird🥁❤️🎹🍷🏁 (@derekbird3) February 6, 2022
Just had a thought…is Trump Johnson’s ‘special’ advisor?
— unpaidcarer🏴🏴🇪🇺💙 (@unpaidcarer1) February 6, 2022
Nothing says “everything is fine” quite like mention precisely what division of the military you’ll need to drag you out pic.twitter.com/lriWW5jJcT
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) February 6, 2022
Johnson saying a tank division would be needed to drag him out of office is full on Trump.
— Butlins McCarthy (@dbainestoronto) February 6, 2022
Poundland Trump https://t.co/urJCoJggKD
— Kevin Gray (@DrKevinGray) February 6, 2022
A tank division? Openly admitting he will trample all over the democratic process. And will Boris Johnson feel the need to incite a riot on Parliament Hill prior? Straight out of the Trump playbook. https://t.co/Jr1hu6uB1S
— Nichola Lashmar (@nichola_lashmar) February 6, 2022
I see Johnson has gone, yet again, full Trump, and yet his cult still defend the indefensible #JohnsonOut13
— lucille mcghee 🏴🇪🇺 🏳️🌈 (@luluphooey) February 6, 2022
A tank division? Worse than his mate Trump. Democracy requires all prime ministers - even one as unscrupulous as the incumbent - to relinquish office without any kind of struggle. All have done so up till now with something else - and that is dignity. https://t.co/k2Lj4Hi9F5
— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) February 6, 2022
Though perhaps saying the Panzer tanks would be needed to drag him out wasn’t the smartest move from Johnson, given who his political rivals are.
Ruth Davidson has of late, with her future secure as a Baroness in the House of Lords, called for the PM to stand down.
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Meanwhile, Liz Truss is one of the frontrunners to replace him in a leadership election.
And there’s nothing they love more than a photoshoot with a tank…
Douglas Ross would probably be up for providing the armoured division some support, too, if he can find time away from his various other jobs.
Don’t just take Boris’s word for all this, though, as we know what that’s worth.
There is not “a chance in hell” that Boris Johnson will stand down voluntarily, according to Tory peer Gavin Barwell.
Barwell served as chief of staff to Theresa May and now sits in the House of Lords.
He said there was a “strong case for change” at the top of the UK Government, but that Johnson would not leave office of his own accord.
Speaking on Sky’s Trevor Phillips On Sunday, Barwell said: “My inclination is that the Conservative Party would be better making a change and I also think, for the good of the country in terms of trust and faith in our politics, there’s a strong case for change.
“But it’s not up to me to make a decision. Ultimately, this is a decision that, up until the next election at least, is one for Conservative MPs.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that the Prime Minister is going to voluntarily resign.
“He’s going to stay there unless Conservative MPs remove him or unless he loses an election. And so, you know, I don’t see any prospect of him voluntarily standing down.”
There is one way Scotland could get rid of Johnson, though … a Yes vote.
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