Boris Johnson’s ‘charming’ side is unravelling – and his move to nab the bigger No 11 flat is just the start

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Many of us as children express extravagant wishes, which we later discover to be unrealisable. But our new prime minister declared in childhood that he wanted to be king of the world, and for him that has not changed.

In pursuit of his ambition, he lies shamelessly, showing no embarrassment when he is found out.

He believes he can solve the problem of the Irish backstop, caring not at all that his “solution” might well result in the destruction of the Good Friday Agreement and lead to a resumption of violence in Northern Ireland.

He is convinced that he can get us out of the EU with a deal on 31 October. This depends on the EU making concessions, and on parliament voting for it. Neither of these outcomes is at all certain, and Mr Johnson seems quite unaware that they are not in his power. His belief is therefore a delusion. If he is thwarted it will be because of the intransigence of the EU or of parliament.

If he persists in leaving without a deal farming, industries and the NHS will suffer. Scotland might leave the union. Many jobs will be lost. He is unwilling, or unable, to see or take responsibility for the impending disasters.

Last week we learned that he and his partner will occupy the four-bedroom flat above 11 Downing Street, leaving the chancellor, who has a family, to squeeze into the two-bedroom apartment above No 10. This is not, in itself, a major issue, but as yet another demonstration of his sense of entitlement and blatant disregard for others, could be seen as further evidence of his boundless entitlement.

It would be charitable to say that the Tory leader is perhaps more deserving of sympathy than blame for his “difficulties”. But we should remember that 20th century history provides no shortage of megalomaniacal leaders who could be charming and persuasive. And, in a variety of ways, deadly.

Susan Alexander
South Gloucestershire

Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy is more like an act of retribution than one of credible policy or purpose, risking national unity and domestic unrest in Northern Ireland and Wales.

“If we cannot have it – neither can you”, seems to state Johnson’s entire purpose.

Given the total failure of Tory policies at home, and the years of austerity that have enabled the level of spending proposed on Brexit, common sense says that we should be revoking Article 50 and using the wealth at home, rather than wasting it.

The level of cost associated with Brexit now looks like nothing more than a nasty punishment against our own people for daring to vote against the direction urged by Cameron.

Maybe the Tories recognise that they are doomed as a party, and forever to be damned for Brexit, but they’re determined to make us pay before they get slung out.

How dare these people steal our democracy and turn the loaded gun of Brexit towards us with no mandate, no sound reason and knowing that they themselves are entirely to blame. I want my part of the UK wallet back before there’s nothing left in it.

Michael Cunliffe
Ilkley

Brexit could be great

Here’s a thought.

When the UK voted in a referendum to leave the EU, those who voted to remain predicted the most terrible disasters would descend on this country.

The truth is none of the predicted earth-shattering calamities actually took place.

Is it possible that the same may happen when we leave the EU without a deal?

Perhaps, when we leave and none of the horrors predicted by those who wish to remain fail to appear, we may start one of the best times this country has experienced for many years.

Colin Bower
Sherwood

Next general election

So now we know when the UK’s next general election will be held. It will be six weeks after the £130m glossy booklet entitled “Why a no-deal Brexit is Best for Britain” (subtitle “Don’t Panic!”) lands on your doormat.

John Bailey
Preston

Spying for the kids

Priti Patel has got off to a bad start by threatening to punch a hole in our computer equipment software to enable GCHQ spooks to spy on us. This, of course, allows others to spy on us: China, North Korea, the Mafia, drug barons, random blackmailers, etc.

“Think of the children” is her mantra. She claims that by making all of us unsafe online, she will make kids safer. It’s just an excuse, of course, for governments to pry. If Patel really cares about the safety of children, she should scrap her online prying and spend the remaining money on checking children’s homes, nurseries and wherever children are to be found.

Barry Tighe
Woodford Green

Nicola Sturgeon and the union

Keith Howell (Letters, Wednesday, 30 July) makes his usual point about Nicola Sturgeon constantly threatening the UK union.

If one supports Howell’s view that Scotland should remain as an integral part of the union, then surely the best way to support this view is to stop giving the Scottish Nationalists the very best reason to pursue independence.

Rather than continually blaming the Scottish Nationalists for this threat, surely the correct tactic is to join the fight for Britain to remain in the union with the EU. The real enemy is not Sturgeon and her Scottish Nationalist supporters – it is Boris Johnson and the supporters of his magic thinking that Britain can be the greatest nation in the world by leaving the European Union.

There is arguably a growing belief that the very concept of Brexit, but especially a no-deal Brexit, is the greatest threat to the health and welfare of Britain since the Second World War, and the biggest threat to the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ever.

Just how long does Howell think it will take following a no-deal Brexit for Northern Ireland to seek unification with the south? And just how long does he think it will take for the people of Wales, who voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, to realise they were duped by clever people in Westminster?

It is not just Scotland that Howell needs to think about.

David Curran
Feltham