Boris Johnson is happy to revise his own history, writes Colin Montgomery; plus letters from Carl Gardner, Graham Bould and Richard Giles
Boris Johnson’s response to the acquittal of the Colston Four has shades of another “trial” – namely, the one that flowed from Franz Kafka’s pen. Here is an individual who condemns the editing of history, yet is happy to completely revise his own history – both verbal and in print – should it suit his own needs at any given time. In fact, he was on record at last week’s PMQs denying a statement about the impact of inflation that he had made on camera, to a reporter, last year (Johnson fumbles and flails under pressure from Rayner, 5 January).
If that is not editing retrospectively – which he laments so vocally in connection with the Colston case – then what is? But there seems to be no depths to which he won’t sink in his hypocrisy and opportunistic denialism. Never mind the confected outrage at the tearing down of one controversial statue; this PM is tearing down the reputation and integrity of his office and democracy itself, and continues to do so with impunity. Which is the greater threat to the social fabric?
Colin Montgomery
Edinburgh
