Who is popular today?

He has lost control of Brexit, parliament and election timing. Resigning may soon look like his least worst option
Because Boris Johnson has such a notoriously casual relationship with the truth, there is a tendency not to take him seriously, even on the occasions when he is probably speaking with an unforked tongue. So there has been a lot of derision for his declaration that he would “rather be dead in a ditch” than ask the EU for an extension to the Brexit deadline.
Seriously? Even if instructed to do so by the legislation that will be written into the statute book this week? Would he break the law, a ditch no previous occupant of his office has chosen to expire in? That, I think, is ultimately unlikely. He wouldn’t like the food in prison. So might he resign as prime minister rather than carry out parliament’s orders? Yes, I think he might do that. He would not want to quit. He may not have realised yet that the positions he has taken will compel him in that direction. But I think we may get to the point where resignation from Number 10, taking his government with him, ends up being his least worst option. He has been boxed by parliamentary votes that will not let him have a no-deal Brexit. He has been coxed by the opposition refusing him an election. The one thing they can’t stop him doing is quitting as prime minister and taunting the Commons to find someone else to carry out its instruction. Deposing himself may turn out to be the most powerful card left in his hand. Continue reading...