As far back as reading his incredible columns in the Daily Telegraph, I have been fascinated with Boris Johnson. Throughout his media and political career, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has intrigued and amused me while often making me reflect further on the parallels between the past and the present. In that regard, his riveting and difficult-to-match biography of Winston Churchill underlies how much both statesmen share many similarities, which probably explains why Boris Johnson undertook the process of writing this biography.

That impression was rekindled while I read Sebastian Payne’s absorbing book The Fall of Boris Johnson: The Full Story (Macmillan). Even though the story it recounts was painful at times – yes, I admit, I’m a fan of Boris Johnson and reading about his downfall didn’t make me particularly joyful – it was unquestionably the best political book I have read for years.

Winston Churchill and Boris Johnson will both go down in history as unrivalled communicators of their respective eras. It must have been hard for the latter’s communications shop to provide products that met the criteria of a man who was probably his own best speechwriter.

At different periods of their careers, both political figures “lost their tribe” to use Sebastian Payne’s expression. In Personality and Power: Builders and Destroyers of Modern Europe, Sir Ian Kershaw writes, “as late as July 1939 four-fifths of Conservative backbench Members of Parliament did not even want him [Churchill] in the Cabinet”. The world was then only a few weeks shy of the start of World War II.

Boris Johnson had the reverse problem. After orchestrating the most considerable Tory majority since 1987, under Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative leader was engulfed in the partygate scandal during the pandemic after revelations that lockdown rules were not always followed at 10 Downing Street. Not ruthless by nature (a lethal handicap in the political shark tank), the Prime Minister was not well advised by his entourage, a shortcoming amplified by the fact that he was not a detail person and that he gave the impression – not baseless – that he could function without following the rules.

Had he been well advised, he might have kept in mind that his fate rested in the hands of his caucus. He failed to manage his relationship with Conservative MPs and often was out of the country when controversies arose. Like Churchill, who was not well versed in domestic policy, Boris “Johnson’s preference (and indeed talent) for playing statesman on the world stage meant he neglected parliamentary politics, to which he had never really been suited.” While both men were caught up in domestic issues, one can wonder if Russian Vladimir Putin didn’t provide a much-needed break when the British Prime Minister needed one with his decision to invade Ukraine on February 22, 2022. The enemy at the gates called upon the better angels of his personality, and that story makes for the best chapter in the book.

From the beginning, Boris Johnson “was emotionally invested in the conflict,” even coining the slogan “Putin Must Fall.” Few Western leaders were as invested in supporting the Ukrainian President and providing military assistance to Kyiv. Only the United States and Germany surpass the UK in that regard. Johnson and Zelenskyy “had established a relationship through a series of in-person and virtual meetings, and it was to evolve into one of the deepest geopolitical bonds of recent times,” writes the former Whitehall correspondent. The British PM took a “pugilistic approach” and was unafraid to ruffle feathers in Washington. Using an expression popularized by Boris Johnson’s iconic predecessor, Sebastian Payne opines that the war in Ukraine “was arguably Johnson’s finest hour as Prime Minister”.

The war in Ukraine would only provide the PM with a short respite, and intestine machinations against him would fan the flames of discontent. While there was no coordination among the ranks of those who sought to overthrow him, there would be a course correction to that, while the leader and his entourage sunk into a bunker mentality that only made matters worse. Even though supporters circled the wagons, support dwindled, and the writing was on the wall. Boris Johnson’s leadership was doomed, and he resigned on July 7, 2022.

Two leaders later, the Tories are still trailing the Labour Party with dismal poll numbers. A “seller’s remorse” can be observed with many who think the former leader would perform better against electoral adversity. After all, wasn’t Boris Johnson the architect of the massive December 2019 victory? One can predict that many felled trees will serve to print “what if” scenarios.

One thing, nevertheless, is sure. In the words of this incomparable author, “Johnson will be remembered as a consequential prime minister,” and I won’t disagree with that assessment. At 59, the former Prime Minister can still be called back to serve. Winston Churchill was adept at resurrecting from oblivion. And, just last week, former PM David Cameron answered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s call and became Foreign Secretary.

Whatever happens in the future, don’t count Boris Johnson out. After all, he’s the disciple and biographer of a history titan whose path belied political obituaries. Furthermore, the state of the world is not devoid of threats and challenges that will call for his singular leadership style and skills.

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Sebastian Payne, The Fall of Boris Johnson: The Full Story, London, Macmillan, 2022, 320 pages.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Jennifer Lynch of Publishers Group Canada for sending me a copy of that book and for her precious collaboration with this blog.