Would Brexit mean Boris as PM? If so, should we worry?

This time last year, Matthew Parris was about the only commentator predicting that the Tories would win a majority. In his Times column today, he says he is now beginning to think that Britain will vote ‘out’ – and he looks at the consequences. Specifically, Cameron’s likely resignation and a summer Tory leadership campaign with Boris Johnson as the favourite.

It all might feel a bit premature, but Matthew Parris is one of the most prescient writers in Britain (as Spectator readers know). If Britain does vote out and Cameron quits, then Boris would be the favourite (see graph, below). And then, gloves would come off. The question always asked about Boris is whether he could withstand a shock-and-awe attack on his character, given the various complications in his love life. What would it look like, if someone were to throw the book at him? So Matthew has decided to do just that. Here’s an extract:-

There’s a pattern to Boris’s life and it isn’t the lust for office, or for applause, or for susceptible women, that mark out this pattern in red warning ink.