Idler Thursday

A soapie

to beat all

soapies

OH BOY! Brexit becomes a soap opera to beat 'em all. The Incredible Hulk (British prime minister Boris Johnson styles himself on the Marvell Comics green giant) has suffered a setback to eclipse all that has gone before.

While he was in New York readying himself to address the UN and shoot the breeze with buddies like Donald Trump, the Supreme Court in London was delivering a judgment that goes right off the political Richter scale.

His controversial proroguing of parliament at a time the Brexit process was approaching crisis was "unlawful", the 11 judges of the court ruled unanimously. He is now widely accused of lying to the queen, to parliament and the public. And parliament is back in session.

This is like a six out of the ground. It comes on top of Bojo's losing every vote in the House of Commons since becoming prime minister and parliament's succeeding in itself taking control of the Brexit process with a law requiring him to ask the EU for an extension of the October 31 Brexit deadline if he hasn't achieved a deal before then.

But soap opera would be dull indeed with nothing but political jockeying. The script requires more zip, preferably a blonde bimbo, better still if she's a model or an actress. .

And, right on cue, up steps the bimbo. The London Sunday Times breaks the story that questions are being asked about Bojo and one Jennifer Arcuri, an American former model and actress, who has become a "tech entrepreneur" (whatever that might be) who became a "close friend" of Johnson in the days when he was Mayor of London.

Arcuri apparently participated in various marketing trips and exercises and was the recipient of substantial public funds.

The rest of Fleet Street takes up the chase. The tabloid Sun has a photograph of Arcuri wearing a bra and otherwise festooned with Union Jacks. This is a colourful and vivacious lady.

Asked directly about his personal relationship with her, Johnson declines to answer, saying her work for London was performed with propriety.

It further emerges that she has a flat in Shoreditch, in the East End of London, which is equipped with a dancing pole. It also emerges that Bojo was a regular visitor to the flat (though whether he was taking lessons in pole dancing is not clear). Current London Mayor Sadiq Khan (a Labour man) has launched a probe.

Will The Incredible Hulk tough it all out? Asked in America whether he's reached the end of the road in Brexit on October 31, come what may, do or die, he insists Britain will leave on that date.

Is he then going to pull a deal out of the hat? Are those EU people kidding when they say there have been no real negotiations? Are they just playing along with the script?

What a soapie! Note the subtle balancing of the sonorous proceedings in the Supreme Court against the pizzaz and colour of a blonde pole dancer festooned with Union Jacks. Not to mention more than a hint of romance.

This one will run and run.

Tailpiece

HOW many cover blurb writers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A vast and teeming horde, stretching from sea to shining sea.

 

 

Last word

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. - W Somerset Maugham