What kind of Prime Minister would Boris Johnson make?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 18 July 2019
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
With his unruly blond hair and shambolic appearance, Boris Johnson is Britain’s best-known politician. He’s also favourite to become the UK’s next Prime Minister. To his supporters, the former Mayor of London is charismatic, entertaining and a man of the people. His critics say he’s unprincipled, ruthless and flexible with the truth. If he wins the Conservative party leadership race, he’ll have to deliver Brexit. But what kind of leader might he be and how will he unite the country? Becky Milligan talks to some of those who’ve worked closely with him to find out what makes him tick.
Presenter: Becky Milligan Producer: Sally Abrahams
Picture: Boris Johnson poses during a visit to the Port of Dover Ltd., as part of his Conservative Party leadership campaign tour on July 11, 2019 in Dover, UK Credit:Chris Ratcliffe - Pool/Getty Images
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the inquiry on the BBC World Service with me Becky Milligan. |
| 0:04.0 | Each week one question, four expert witnesses and an answer. |
| 0:11.0 | It's 2006. |
| 0:13.6 | in a room at the Swanky Hilton Hotel in Central London. |
| 0:19.7 | It's an award ceremony. |
| 0:21.5 | Boris Johnson, at this point a minor British politician, is booked as an after-dinner |
| 0:26.8 | speaker, probably for a handsome fee. |
| 0:31.6 | Also there is Jeremy Vine, a BBC journalist who's handing out the awards. |
| 0:36.0 | When I rise, there's a seat next to me that was empty and I said, |
| 0:40.0 | oh, who's that for? And they said, ah, it's Boris Johnson, and he's not here yet do know where he is. |
| 0:46.0 | Jeremy Vine has no idea he glances at his watch four minutes before Boris Johnson is due on stage. |
| 0:53.6 | Where is he? |
| 0:55.6 | Then, with two minutes to spare. |
| 0:59.1 | Suddenly he burst through the doors, his old hair and his shirt's untucked and he plums himself down next to me and he says |
| 1:06.6 | quick Jerry what am I doing? |
| 1:08.9 | He's on stage in two minutes there is no speech prepared. Everyone is stressed. |
| 1:13.0 | I'll never forget this. He gets this piece of paper and he starts writing what is I think supposed to be in speech. |
| 1:19.0 | I'm looking at it. I'm really stressed now. I'm thinking he's not going to be able to say anything. He writes the word shark and he |
| 1:26.7 | writes the word sheep and that's all I see and then suddenly it's ladies and |
| 1:30.6 | gentlemen please welcome Boris Johnson. It's going to be a catastrophe. It's going to be a catastrophe. |
| 1:35.0 | He manages to make a speech with nothing. |
| 1:37.0 | It all comes off the top of his head. |
... |
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