The benefit of disclosure trumps Boris Johnson’s possible motive

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If Johnson feels that the outcome of the inquiry is likely to be bad for him, he’ll make sure that others will suffer too (PA)

The Independent’s recent article raises many interesting points. Boris Johnson, perhaps still in party mode, has decided to “pass the parcel” to Rishi Sunak who will be holding it when the music stops. It seems more than likely that the unredacted content of the information Johnson has provided to the Cabinet Office, which he claims to be comprehensive, is likely to be damaging to his successors and opponents within the Tory party.

Boris Johnson is not a charitable man, and the worst-case scenario for the Tories is that there could be an enormous embarrassment and reputational damage to Rishi Sunak and other contemporary actors in the Covid crisis. If Johnson feels that the outcome of the inquiry is likely to be politically terminal for him, he’ll make sure that others will also suffer.

The probability that the outcome of this debacle is likely to further damage his party’s evaporating possibility of re-election appears to be no disincentive. Johnson’s behaviour in this matter is reflective of profound disunities in the Tory party.