How Britain Ends: English Nationalism and the Rebirth of Four Nations

by Gavin Esler

Boris Johnson is not a ‘One Nation’ Conservative but a ‘One Notion’ Conservative. His One Notion has always been to do whatever is best for Boris Johnson. After all, he is the politician who wrote two versions of his newspaper column – one for and the other against Brexit. Then he had two versions of Northern Ireland – one with a border on the island of Ireland, one with a border in the sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. And at least two versions of what to do about coronavirus – seeking ‘herd immunity’, then a lockdown and then using ‘good British common sense’. Johnson is consistent only in choosing what appears best for Johnson, and certainly not best for traditional unionism in Northern Ireland. In Ulster 2020 rather than Ulster 1912, unionists may again have need to recall Kipling’s words: The traitor claims his price. What need of further lies? We are the sacrifice. The Daily Telegraph paid Mr Johnson a quarter of a million pounds a year to write for the newspaper along with his part-time jobs as mayor

Typical