On 25 June, MPs will vote on whether to expand Heathrow Airport by building a third runway.
At this crucial time, it’s important to remember that, back in 2015, foreign secretary Boris Johnson made a bold and impressive pledge:
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's 2015 pledge to voters over Heathrow expansion pic.twitter.com/OkwNbySb9O
— PA Media (@PA) June 25, 2018
Yet today, he’s mysteriously absent*. So people are asking where the hell he could have got to?
The great escape
Even high-ranking ministers don’t have the foggiest:
Chris Grayling on R4 this morning:
‘I have absolutely no idea where Boris Johnson is.’
He is the Foreign Secretary. he promised to lay down in front of a bulldozer if Heathrow ext went ahead.
WHERE IS BORIS JOHNSON#wheresjohnson pic.twitter.com/SUcOi2JQbE
— Janet (@JanetHughes04) June 25, 2018
Although there are also reports he’s hiding in plain sight:
Whitehall source says Boris Johnson is currently in the foreign office…
— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) June 25, 2018
True colours
While there is a chance that Johnson could be away on important official business, the government is imposing a three-line whip on Conservative MPs to vote in favour of expansion.
Therefore, if Johnson were to stick to his principles, he would almost certainly have to follow international trade minister Greg Hands in resigning from the front bench:
https://twitter.com/ArgyleLoz/status/1009808065212928000
This seemingly convenient absence has led some to question Johnson’s motives:
The man who vowed to lie in front of #Heathrow's bulldozers, but can't even find the courage of his own convictions. to vote in the Commons? Yes, Brexit's own high priest of hypocrisy, his own pyramid of piffle, the invertebrate Boris Johnson.
— Miles King (@MilesKing10) June 25, 2018
Even Conservative MP Justine Greening has been getting in on the act:
Great you’re back Greg! I wouldn’t want any long term MP campaigners against #Heathrow expansion to miss their chance to represent their community. #commitment #bulldozer https://t.co/FP5h4lqrAg
— Justine Greening (@JustineGreening) June 25, 2018
Although some gave him the benefit of the doubt. Sort of:
https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1011175151201849344
A pioneer?
Some see Johnson’s vanishing act as a new form of ironic protest:
In order to protest against the 3rd runway at Heathrow, Boris Johnson has flown out of the country.
— Al Sexton-Jones (@asjat7steps) June 25, 2018
Or maybe he’s just keeping a low profile to avoid suspicion:
People are asking where BORIS Johnson is……. he is flat out in a Field near Heathrow Airport waiting for a Bulldozer. #Heathrow
— james spencer (@elgae669) June 25, 2018
Yet others weren’t so forgiving:
https://twitter.com/jonhewlett1/status/1011145836888231936
It’s strange that Boris Johnson isn’t going to be lying in front of the bulldozers at Heathrow, given how frequently he lies about everything else.
— Lance 💙 (@lancewalton) June 25, 2018
The end?
Calls for his resignation are growing:
https://twitter.com/jessbrammar/status/1011117253121724417
If Boris Johnson has a backbone, or a shred of credibility left, he will join Greg Hands in resigning. #Heathrow https://t.co/zcOUInt2fE
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) June 21, 2018
Yet as Johnson seems to have gone AWOL precisely to avoid resigning, some are saying:
BORIS JOHNSON is out of the country to avoid voting on Heathrow expansion against which he vowed to lie down in front of the bulldozers.A principled politician rather than break his election promise would leave the Government in such a situation. Boris Johnson does a bunk
— Arthur O'Connor #FBPE (@Chantepoule) June 25, 2018
Resigning now would be like a child faking illness then declaring themselves better just in time for triple maths.
A true patriot
Theresa May has bizarrely defended Johnson’s decision to be absent as he is:
the living embodiment of global Britain.
That must mean that either:
- Britain is a self-serving opportunist that only believes in preserving its own status.
- May is too weak to openly criticise one of her own ministers.
https://twitter.com/ShehabKhan/status/1011184526993842176
Either way, Johnson’s decision to take flight rather than stick to his guns is at least consistent with a career defined by turbulent principles.
* Shortly before publication, Johnson turned up in Afghanistan.
Get Involved!
– Support anti-airport expansion groups: HACAN, Vote No Heathrow, and Plane Stupid.
– Join The Canary, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.
Featured image via BBCNews/YouTube and UmeshGopinath/Flickr
