Welcome to the documentary from the BBC world service where we report the world, however difficult the issue, however hard to reach podcast the BBC world service? I supported by advertising The podium season two is available now, like many people in this world there. I had never seen another example before bringing you more remarkable stories of limping imperiling pick athletes and that incredible journeys to the poverty of this. My dream and scandal that day. find out more at the end of this podcast. Hello, I'm james reynolds on the BBC world service- and this is BBC eyes conversations on parse johnson after a dramatic and unprecedented forty, eight hour period. When more than fifty members, His own government resigned uk pay

it says that he is stepping down after losing the confidence of members of parliament. Many of that can I supported Mr Johnson through they can send through breaks it through the pandemic. Strew party gate, you name it. I have supported him but unfortunate. I have had to say enough is enough when burst and became primary step in July twenty nineteen. It was because his prey sesar to resume. Couldn't reach an acceptable deal on breaks it the uk decision to withdraw from the european union. after maize resignation, conservative party members, not the public, voted boris johnson into power when he called a general election five months later, pledging to finally get breaks done, Boris Johnson delivered the largest conservative majority eighty seats since Margaret thatcher back in the late nineteenth eighties.

areas of the uk that had only ever voted for the labour party. Opposition switch sides to conservative also noticed tore it for the first time, with his relentlessly upbeat persona, is trademark unruly blonde hat and his tendency to make a off the cuff comments. Johnson was a formidable campaigner and vote went, but less than three years later, following a series of scandals and byelection defeats, the prime minister appeared outside his offices at number ten downing street to give his own resignation speech and, of course, I'm immensely proud of the achievements of this government I'm getting brexit done to settling our relations with the continent.

Moreover, during his time in office, sparse johnson, like only desire on the world, had to deal with a number of unexpected global situations: the pandemic, the economic fall out of war in ukraine and the ongoing cost of living crisis, but it was questions over his character that brought him down from an investigation over an expensive designer revamp of his downing street apartment to an attempt to rewrite the disciplinary code for mps to help an ally whose suspension for breaking lobbying rules. The allegations were incessant, then he was fines by the metropolitan police for breaking. own governments, lockdown laws after attending boozy office, gatherings scandal, which became known as party gate, and this was at a time when millions of ordinary people across the country were making considerable sacrifices by following the rules and not

in friends or family by now, the political magic that brought boris Johnson to power seemed to be wearing off. The conservatives lost a series of by elections the liberal democrats and also to the main opposition labour party led by sir keir starmer, but the final straw for many mps was when ministers were sent out to speak to the media, to defend the prime minister armed with what turned out to be misleading information in over an mp facing allegations of sexual misconduct. The first members of bars, Johnson's cabinet to resign included the chancellor, where she soon act and the health minister cited avid this triggered a snowball effect and reflected how many conservative voters felt my name's alessandra are fulfilled. I am glad that paris is going. I think he has done some good things

some tough things, I'm not sure how anyone else would actually have handled the pandemic, whether that, if any better worse, I do think they ve turned back on covert and nothing is too much going on with all the disruption in government. They can't govern because the too busy watching their bucks for the next sleaze situation to come out. I don't think you should be there and to work together. I think somebody like dominant role should do it also deputy, so that makes sense. and I cannot forget seven months of not seeing my grandchildren and my mom, who has dementia pain on her own in that first lockdown and making her seemingly much worse. I can't forgive that I didn't break the rules, and nor should he have done and he isn't bothered that he broke the rules Allison in sheffield, that

and john industrial in central england also got in touch. I supported Mr Johnson. Through they consent row breaks it through the pandemic through poverty gate, but on forest at I have had to say enough is enough, I'm afraid. aren't supports him any more. You hoped he would be your next winston churchill, the british prime minister, who was in office in one britain's partners, we're war that didn't happen now Unfortunately, my winston churchill turned out to be a paper tiger I was really enthusiastic when he became mayor of london even more enthusiastic when he became prime minister. I thought that He would be the one to take this country to greater things. Even worse. If the pandemic hit between himself she rishi sunak We see all the brilliant scientists we have in this country money, together, sir alarm, through a terrible worldwide pandemic.

And then all of a sudden everything fell apart but always has damaged the conservative party irreparably. here starmer haste, All his christmas is come at once, because if there is a snap general election, the conservative, she will get absolutely annihilated. Nobody will vote for them all the people that support, labour will vote for them. The people that used to vote for Tory policy like myself, won't even perhaps bother to vote because I would never bring myself to vote labour. Let lib have proved that they have. Thing so who am I going to vote for so a lot of people won't vote at, or it hasn't they damage the tory party. I dont think they were ever thought these back john in dunstan like John husband and wife Gavin and Deborah our conservative party voters. This was

That response has always been a maverick he's like a jack in the box. You know his jewelry springs out when you don't want him. So when you do wants him, so he doesn't. I I think his international standing is very good. His domestic standing is atrocious and is the split the unnamed? It is very difficult sort of I'm trying to sort of work through an average on this you know ukraine is boiling? Why we ve now got the chechen saying that they will come through to a burly and if they can now always says where we have a full strength, I don't see any one else. They can actually stand up a strong, as borys on this european stage Deborah. It often said about prime ministers that their strength it's become their weaknesses without them actually changing. So we can think back to Margaret thatcher who is in power for ten years at first her strong purse.

As he made her seem commanding. In the end it made her seem dictatorial. I wonder what you think about boris and his strengths becoming his weaknesses. That's absolutely right because we needed a strong leader, a breadth faith and we needed somebody strong advocate vote, and actually this is my realtor libraries. We do need somebody strong for the russia, ukraine crisis and I just think to myself that you get to a stage where, as you say, policy strengths and now his weaknesses, the problem I've got a of takes. Eva. Yet that is a serious question and I can't answer it and an cake to send. You can't answer it, because until someone gets in situ you don't see there was you know, being sort of a minister is not being the prime minister, but but going forward. I don't see anyone as strong as

I don't say that anyone is there that that what he's doing at the moment and Deborah you heard and that he thought Boris Johnson's international standing was much better than his domestic one. Many people in ukraine, for instance, are grateful for his support, but the prime minister his government have a very different reputation elsewhere in europe. The issue of breaks it continues to cause considerable friction. Sexually. Pretty patel is known for a tough stance on immigration, the you They now has a policy to send some asylum seekers to rwanda to get a sense of what people in the rest of europe think about Boris Johnson. I spoke to the uk correspondent for the french radio station otto, whose malleable joyous belgium, the senior year correspondent for dutch of eta, our proposal is that it makes a fascination horror, and you know the nice german word

We know that were made last year in the most alone as language, exactly that people are watching. Those from the point here is that among european leaders for assistance and has made any friends really because, as opposed to get breaks, it done in a nice neighbourly fashion and then afterwards being friends again, he has sort of kept on poking around in it.

Lee with these wretched nor the man and protocol and everybody in europe and in european capitals, particularly in berlin things I mean, for Heaven's sake, we ve got other problems. Why touch this now? Just leave it alone. Everyone has the same problems really was inflation was rising prices with the war in ukraine and so on, and now this man posts with a stick in the service of not quite resolved point after breakfast, so that is one of the big issues here: they're not going to be any tears shed after versions and has stepped down. He really hasn't endeared himself to any of the other europeans, except one. The exception. That is, is a really firm support for ukraine and the war with russia. That, of course, has

at some admiration, but the rest is just as they say, cringe inducing may be your correspondent for the french radio station rtl. How is boris johnson seen in france is not seen as a serious politician. I mean the president, for example, said it himself that Britain son is not really serious way call him a clown at one stage. Without a mistranslation, nothing is pitchfork rate That's certainly the sentiment. I mean they got on well a few days ago in the g seven and it started there. They restarted their abroad men's less. How basically clear britain's and wants to put it because one thing for for sure makes no doubt in the french data's analysis is that Emmanuel mccoy is making friend with provisions and thinking we don't long to wait, he's on the out and we just have to make nice until we get. Someone else was gonna, be more serious. Of course you will say that out loud you can say that, of course, by the certainly the hope that basically,

and she and uk relationship can be restarted with someone who is perhaps more one in a way and and more open to solving the problem that can be only sold by the two countries like, for example, the the channel. Crossings is something france and the uk has to work a lot on it and brains and has been accused by france to try and just want to. Please he's electorate I'm not trying to solve the issue, whereas france wants to basically walkin it very very clearly serve for all this reasons boris Johnson is seen as more mobile client, but also someone before we convince you know, go ahead with a similar issues that we have to sort out and bob are vital in german, we ve seen a lot of british politics him. It's typical features. We seen members I'm getting up and shouting at each other on really better. Arguments in public in parliament. That's part of the feature: the system when you

the audience? Look at all this. Do you think god's good to see people logging? Would you think that gets you nowhere better to have consensus, of course, basically particularly in germany, the electorate thinks it's better to have consensus. Have one of these really boring it's like the enjoy. At the moment. You know three parties sort of very carefully, not stepping on each other's toes and searching consensus like to a fault and of course everybody looks across the channel also from brussels, and things Wow, you get a lot of entertainment for your money. You get a government that doesn't probably really govern. I mean they. They really failed on on, that part, but did the sheer entertainment value, just beats any series on netflix in any any other streaming channel. I mean this is just life and in color, but seriously behind the amusement. Of course, there is a sort of horror looking at how this government simply to solve

before you a very eyes how it just sort of false to pieces. There is at the point where this bit of shot, and for that I mentioned earlier in that many people saw on the european side, saw this parsons government as a sort of an outpost off donald trump in the united kingdom, very populous. Try to please everybody not being very straight, was the truth, bending things to your will and of course now they see that this is spectacularly failing, and so everybody things. Okay, when that is done was a. We hope for somebody better, more serious. As my french colleagues said, the war really prone to do his job to sort of deal visit. Inflation deal was rising prices and all the other problems that all european countries have, and not just sort of clowning about and and holding of funds, speeches or silly speeches in public

really is mixed. The weight is probably on a sort of everyone will be relieved in the end when this experiment was populism is over both of us. You try to look to a british prime minister, whom I have different relationship with europe, but is increasing when you look at british politics here, you'll see that the main opposition party leader sick, storm from the labour party gave a speech recently and which he ruled out any attempt to rejoin the single market or the european union that, if they, is to be a leadership contest among the ruling conservative party from We understand everyone roughly can the same policy of bar, Johnson Mary beyond, There is no particular conversation here about change. Relationship with europe, which was changed to brexit. No, indeed, because it's something that so touchy in terms of the uk electorate that all the politicians really are not really clear in terms of what they can do with the other countries are no. They may not be a lot of changes.

The policy, but the relationships are very important, all the more important none that the uk is out of in you being friends and not just saying our friends in the: u s, brochures and says being really friends with members of the eu all are one days at a meeting of the home secretaries in calais late a few months ago you are invited as a non member of the EU but you're invited, because you count your important and you're not disinvited, because you did something wrong, which was which is what happened. Of course, after Boris Johnson sent a letter to mayor Michael saying, we have to sort out the channel crossing. Why don't you take back some of the people who crossed the channel and put that letter on Twitter. That's why a million mackerel said that bridges and wasn't a serious and, as a result of their friends, did invited pretty battalion. the meeting that was,

bought and because it was an important meeting and nothing can be decided without the uk us they are so important. When you about general crossing. So that's why Important you have good relationship, good human relationship and some kind of trust, even if the parties are different It is important and the uk being outside all the more important that you New relationship with those countries and one of the challenges facing all eu countries and Britain, which is not part of the eu, is policy. Which ukraine bars Johnson has, in recent months, made visible support for ukraine, a central part of his premiership barber vital. How important has Britain's ukraine policy been in influencing germany, if at all, it has been oregon in the way that it has been noted and everybody was more or less secretly grateful that it was there because it was quite early and britain was one of the countries delivering weapons to ukraine. Earlier than others and germany has forever been.

The ring around being caught up in his charcoal problems of self awareness and pacifism and what not yes, there is, of course, the acknowledgement that they see. Yes, he has done. Does. He is doing this, and that is a good point. As for the rest I mean it, it doesn't end there. It ends at the point where we are at in europe. Was our economy he's in trouble was our electorate. Our voters are citizens more more or less becoming restive and and nervous and uncertain about what the future will bring, and it was regard to those measures and and policies, and maybe things, countries in europe. Could you in common? me no support or any sort of no answer from birth Johnson. What we could do is there any saying that europe should do, for instance, with regard to energy prices and so on, and so that is totally lacking and it just this one exception. That is the political support for you.

That is something that will be his legacy, and everyone will be hoping that his successor will. continue was not, but as for the rest as my very rightly said, it's up to personal relations should trust needs to be restored, There needs to be decency and honesty in the way of dealing with each other means Being countries aren't waiting for britain to come back. That is simply not on the agenda, but the our way to do it It was a neighbor in a straightforward manner and in a way that we can all trust each other barbara. so the senior europe correspondent for dutch of eta in belgium, and maybe you, the uk, our support for the radio station audio in france bars Johnson. says, he intends to stay on as an outgoing caretaker prime minister until,

The next leader is chosen, which may not happen until october, or so not everyone is happy about. This delay will hear now from two more conservative voters. Vicky is a long time tory voter who lives in bristol in southwest england. She never Boris Johnson, as leader will lives in orange, show in manchester in north west england. He voted for bars Johnson in twenty nineteen, the first time it voted for the conservatives and he's not happy that Johnson is now stepping down as prime minister is nobody to lead, and even if you look across the ballot box, I dunno people are going on about laypeople and out of labour manual labor months up from fifty eight years of age, seldom the festival It seems that you're, looking nearly forty years thirty seven years and look at the ballot box and suggest armor- is a rabbit in the headlights position leader the labour leader, This is worrying. Me boris did what he said he was going to be, but was busy coal we too and the end of his son. You has been shot

and it should shape because he was probably going to be down as one of the great leaders, but now it's gone down as a shape. Kenneth consenting vote was around the world countries in a mess. Let's forget passing I there's a lot of major political issues out there and is also the cost of living crisis. Picky. How do you see things I'm up delighted that he's left it left it's not a moment too soon. For me, I wasn't happy when he was elected to be honest, because the I could see the writing on the wall. I don't think he was ever right to lead the party and be prime minister. I'm glad that he's. Finally, so once done, the right thing thank you. What are the main issues facing you in your life? I a business and that has been tricky drink a bit, I have to admit so cost. In crisis is actually a consideration and getting a business back up. I think, as it was prior to keep it

it also. I want to be represented by a cabinet and mps that I feel understand what's going on, not just with me but with the rest of the country as well. So it's representative of the electorate What are the main issues facing you in your if took about the customer well fortune. With a name. I was ill health aid April sold with the cost in crisis, escalated the winter months, seven hundred and fifty pound. Get me wrong. There's a lot worse people out there, but when you talking people spending thirty pounds fifty miles to work and then fifty miles by he talking thirty pounds a day. I don't know how people are doing it and Vicki to expect a new. Went to change your life to make it easier to buy things when you go shopping I We do have some level of confidence, because I think that its needed so much that they have no choice but to actually have a say, de in place, and I am really hoping that when we stop talking about some of this

candles and, unlike that, were floating around in some of the dreadful behaviour that actually we will have a cabinet the arrival to focus on the things that matter, which has been part of the problem. I do hope there is a prime minister on a cabinet surrounding that MR that has a much stronger the moral compass than the poorest Johnson had, which wouldn't be difficult. They need. You thought the breakfast deal out proper within our Illegal immigration is your there and the cost of living. I love this law. Is everybody not just one person in the uk and worldwide? We do need a government, a very strong government and a very strong leader, because otherwise this situation's going to get worse, will in manchester and vicky in bristol after a to tumultuous week here in the uk, where the prime minister, after leading his party to an unprecedented victory just three years ago, now says that he will resign unchanged

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