Boris Johnson episode 'a national shame'

07 July 2022

Expert comment from the University of Reading

Professor Rosa Freedman, Professor of Law Conflict and Global Development at the University of Reading said:

“Over the past two years, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resisted calls to resign despite repeated scandals involving himself and other members of his party, and escalating human rights issues around the country.

“It is to our national shame that the focus has been on Johnson and his behaviour, when it should be about the impacts of the Government’s failings under his leadership to respond adequately to a worsening position of human rights in the UK and internationally.

“We have more than two and half million people relying on food banks in the sixth wealthiest country in the world. The NHS is struggling with patient backlogs and facing shortfalls in funding and staff. UK schools are in increasing states of disrepair, with pupils taught in larger classes because of an ability to recruit teachers.

“Support for women is going backwards, with a lack of funding for domestic abuse services, and our legal system taking years to try cases of rape and with conviction rates falling. And many people on low incomes are getting poorer in real terms as the cost of living has soared.

“Of course we must scrutinise the actions, inactions and abuses of power at the heart of Government, but we must not forget that the real scandals are not boozy parties during lockdown but rather the impact of government policies on people in the UK and overseas.”

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