Boris Johnson, lies & the Wenger defence
Boris Johnson, like Donald Trump, has a history of telling lies.
The mode of operation is a little different however. Johnson in many cases lies in a calculated way relying on the fact that as an old Etonian this is ok.
It often isn’t
Johnson has departed from several journalistic jobs at the Times and the Spectator but he has also been sacked as a politician.
In 2004 when Michael Howard was leader of the Opposition, Johnson was Shadow Arts Minister and Tory Vice-Chair. He had an affair with Petronella Wyatt and she became pregnant. She decided to have an abortion and Johnson tried to keep the matter out of the public domain.
However news of it started to appear in the tabloid press. Johnson tried unsuccessfully to lie his way out of it. Howard decided that Johnson would have to go not over the affair or the abortion but because he had lied about it. He instructed his spokesman Guy Black to speak to Johnson and get him to resign. Johnson refused. After watching a Liverpool football match Howard then spoke directly to Johnson at 6.30pm and sacked him. It was November 13th 2004.
Testifying to the Commons Select Committee on 22nd March about whether he had told MPs the truth about Downing St partying and law breaking during COVID restrictions, Johnson deployed a new tactic. It’s known as the Wenger defence. Law breaking may have taken place and Johnson was often present but he didn’t actually see any of that..
It’s only known as the Wenger Defence by Spurs fans! In Wenger`s case wry humour, Johnson on the other hand just adding one more lie to his tottering tower of deceit.