Robert Harris on Boris Johnson

IN an interview over Lunch with the FT soon after General Election the writer, confident of Tony Blair, and political pundit, the classist Robert Harris, told Frederick Studeman that 'Every triumph has to be paid for,' he said, with an eye to his researches on classical Rome, believing Johnson will now have to deliver on his promises.  He added that Labour could be 'in quite a strong place in 2024 because the Tories won't have their two great advantages - "get Brexit done" and Jeremy Corbyn'.

There is a recognition however that it will be necessary to reorient the Labour party, and that would not be easy.

Meanwhile, Harris muses:  'One of the things I did learn from writing the Cicero books is the obvious one:  that in every great victory lie the seeds of subsequent defeat.'

His classical interpretation of the prime minister is that Johnson has a 'great man' view of power.   Harris says:  'He's, let's say, flexible in his approach.  I don't think he is guided.'

So expect some surprising twists and turns, the ditching of past policies and allies.  If Johnson wants to hold on to his newly won northern territories, then he can't have a hard, recession-inducing Brexit.

Boris is likened in the inerview to the Roman politician Publius Clodius Pulcher (died 52 B.C.) who was one of the leading demagogues in the 1st century B.C.  As tribune, he wielded nearly as much power as Julius Caesar or Pompey.

Harris says:  'One of the things that I did learn from writing the Cicero books is the obvious one: that in every great victory lie the seeds of subsequent defeat.'

Johnson will now have to deliver, according to Harris; adding 'Politics is just relentless.... nothing ever ends.  You get Brexit and then there'll be an NHS winter crisis.' 

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