Boris Johnson: Why the New PM should call a General Election

It was the news which most Britons expected but many did not want in the slightest. Boris Johnson was confirmed as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Wednesday. In the hours since, he has pieced together his cabinet and sent those who have been replaced back up to the backbenches. Unfortunately, this cabinet consists mainly of Conservative MP’s who are not fit to serve.

Unfortunately, Johnson and his cabinet find themselves in power in a way which doesn’t reflect the national interest. Less than one percent of the population had a say on who became the new Prime Minister. Conservative members of any age were able to cast a vote in who should lead their party and consequently the new Prime Minister.

Considering the circumstances, Johnson should call a general election to legitimize his administration. His predecessors have done it, most recently Theresa May. She called a snap election in 2017 and went on to win, just, and as a result she was able to justify her position in number 10. Despite a rise in support for Labour, May and the Conservatives won enough support to keep their government together. It was an election which the Conservatives won but didn’t really win and which Labour were defeated but did better than expected.

If Johnson was to call the election which he needs to, then he will be up against rival parties of both old and new. One party which won’t be as much of a challenge as it should be is Labour. Both the Conservatives and Labour are in jeopardy and have been for many months for different reasons. The Tories will hope to put an end to this with the new Johnson regime, but judging by some of the new Prime Ministers choices for his cabinet the party may not be over its problems. For example, new Home Secretary Priti Patel was forced to resign from her last role as a cabinet minister. The former International relations secretary handed in her notice after failing to be candid about some high-profile meetings with Israeli Ministers and representatives. She effectively risked national security and is now head of national security. It just should not be allowed to happen, and it would be funny if it wasn’t so serious

Patel admitted that her actions “fell below the high standards that are expected of a secretary of state”. Yet she finds herself in an even higher role now. How many jobs would reward failure with a promotion less than two years later? Only in government.

In addition to this, the new education secretary Gavin Williamson was loyal to Theresa May right up until she was no longer PM. As a born again Johnsonite, he got himself a job as arguably one of the most important cabinet ministers. It’s amazing what happens when a promotion comes along.

Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister with a right-wing government in place under circumstances not involving the voting public. It is only right that Johnson calls an election, if he has any integrity then the new PM needs to do this. We have reached the point where Johnsons’ pally and bumbling personality have got him the top job in the UK.

One of his first tasks as PM will be to go back to the EU and try to do the impossible: re-open the Brexit negotiations. It is something which he has spoken about in the past and a lot of his supporters got behind this. when it doesn’t happen, it will likely be the catalyst for the road to a no deal Brexit on October 31st

Boris Johnson needs to call an election, if he loses out then it will be a whole new government tasked with carrying the baton of Brexit. If he wins, then his cabinet will need to act with more professionalism than some have shown in the past. Many people doubt the ability of Boris Johnson to lead, but a good first move would be if he was to trigger a snap election sooner rather than later.