Grilled, battered or fried: Boris Johnson’s arse on the line

Poor Boris! But if “Operation Scouse Grovel” failed as a public relations exercise for the Tory party - although Boris watchers hasten to note the numerous Liverpudlians who’ve publicly defended his views - “Action Editor” as Johnson’s gutsy effort in defending The Spectator’s capacity for inciting public debate may well be described, has at least succeeded in my opinion.

But the week from hell had yet to fade for Johnson as accounts of Michael Howard’s testiness lent weight to rumors that Boris would soon be forced to give up at least one of his day jobs. At the Threadneedle/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Award ceremony Howard and Johnson sniped at each other with the best of British sarcasm. Thanking Howard for presenting the awards in spite of his vehement dissent over The Spectator’s opinions, Boris noted the Tory leader had “taken time out from his busy multi-tasking day”. Retaliating with unexpected fervor, Howard hinted at tabloid coverage of Johnson’s rumored affair with author and Spectator contributor Petronella Wyett.  To which Boris could be heard muttering, “I think that’s enough!” Later when Howard quipped that Boris’ public life could be compared with Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy’s prolific appearances, Johnson very nearly lost his cool. “I don’t see how he can be allowed to get away with this, its absolutely outrageous!”

Yesterday Tory Leader Michael Howard sacked Boris Johnson from the party’s front bench in evident response to increased media attention to his initial denials of his Wyatt affair. Forced to apologise yet again, his detractors were having a field day but Boris fought on with all he had. “I am very sorry this decision has been taken in response to tabloid stories about my private life. I am very much looking forward to continuing to promote the policies we have developed on the arts, and will do my utmost to serve my constituents in Henley.”

Could it get any worse for Boris Johnson? We can only image that by the time this nasty portion of life’s beat me ’til I’m blue lesson is over and digested in full, his job as editor will be even more meaningful to him. But this too is potentially under threat after the publication’s proprietors, the Barclay Brothers, announced a reshuffle of the current board of Directors. Boris is tougher than he looks and he’ll survive to grow from learning the hard way that in this age of media’s supreme mastery of the art of public shaming, democratic debate is often the first casualty.