Opinion | The collapse of Great Britain? Global leaders look down on Boris Johnson

By Edward Hei Leung, LegCo Member

Ironically, the Great Britain suffers from its declining global if not regional status. In the latest NATO meeting, Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, stood awkwardly alone in comparison with other EU leaders cheerfully greeting each other. As an old saying goes, the sun never sets on British Empire. Can anyone imagine that such a superior nation once controlling fourteen overseas territories is now faced with a dim future ahead?

Strictly speaking, Boris Johnson has to find solutions to his popularity decline after the disclosure of Downing Street's party scandal. Ukraine crisis, to him, might be a God-given opportunity to reverse the tide, though the reality is brutal as always. Boris Johnson attributed the Ukrainians' real-life battle against Russia to the instinct of the people of a country to choose freedom every time as if British people voted for Brexit. Whatever it takes, no one expects this kind of comparison in my opinion. Should we characterize UK Prime Minister as a political coward eating bloody buns of Ukrainians?

Worse still, Johnson looks like devaluing himself and UK, during his conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida. He called himself a fan of Fukushima's karinto, and shared the fried dough cake with Kishida. In fact, it was not the first time for Boris Johnson to demonstrate his friendly welcome to Fukushima food. However, when it comes to UK pleasing Japan on Fukushima food, it looks a little bit embarrassing, especially when similar event happens in Taiwan island. Aside from the weird greeting, does Johnson truly lift the import ban, provided that he drank a can of peach juice in front of Japanese foreign minister five years ago? Is that kind of demonstration nothing more than a political window-dressing? Perhaps Macron is right. As reported in the Guardian, the French president privately named Johnson a clown.

When Boris Johnson enjoys performing in his big stage, UK inflation has risen to a three-decade high of 6.2% recently. In other words, there is no doubt that his poor governance adversely impacts British people. Richard Walker, the managing director of a supermarket chain, said that some UK households even cannot afford energy to boil root vegetables. The soaring price, though aggravated by Russia-Ukraine military conflicts, is highly related to continuous worker shortage and supply chain issue after the Brexit. Walker believed that, in reality, the inflation on food was actually pushing to 10%. Sad but true, the skyrocketing cost of living pushes grassroot families to the financial brink. To put it simple, what they encounter is to choose either cold room or hunger, given the increasing energy price.

Due to the emotional attachment with colonial era, some Hong Kong residents unreasonably give plaudits to the extension of BNO visa program. No matter how intriguing the so-called Global Britain strategy, it cannot turn the tide that UK is not the former Great Britain anymore, the naked fact BNO migrants habitually ignore. It does not only limit to poor governance, but also the declining international status, as proven by Boris Johnson's latest meetings with other national leaders. Why does British administration eagerly push BNO visa program forward? Is it due to love or responsibility? Perhaps deteriorating economic situation shed a light on this controversial issue.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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