The Rise And Fall Of Boris Johnson review: If you need an MP for a secret mission, make sure it’s not Jacob Rees-Mogg! writes ROLAND WHITE

The rise and fall of Boris Johnson

Evaluation:

Say what you like about Boris Johnson, but politics was much livelier and more entertaining when he was around.

Now who has his optimism? Or his colorful way with words? And let’s not forget the electrifying effect he had on the campaign trail and the idea that anything seemed possible.

Boris Johnson’s (Ch4) Rise And Fall (Ch4) was well timed, amid speculation that the former Prime Minister might be making a comeback.

But it was also a reminder that his ebullience and charm hide a complicated personality.

“People knew he was a chancer,” said the broadcaster and Daily Mail columnist Andrew Neil, “but for a while it didn’t seem to matter.”

Believe it or not, it was one of the kinder judgments because this was a portrait that went a lot into amateur psychology.

“He’s very needy,” said biographer Andrew Gimson. ‘He doesn’t like being alone. He wanted the approval of liberal-minded women.’

American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, who had an affair with Boris, spoke of his emotional insecurity and recalled his seduction technique.

“I really want to date you,” he said. She played hard to get and warned: ‘I’m high maintenance.’

‘What?’ said Boris startled. ‘Handbags and s***?’

Even more serious cases had moments of comedy. When Boris formed his first cabinet, he asked Gavin Williamson’s advice on possible chancellors. Nominate a friend, he advised.

The Prime Minister replied: ‘I don’t have that many friends in politics.’

When Boris wanted to suspend Parliament, he sent Jacob Rees-Mogg to Balmoral on a secret mission to seek royal approval.

Was Rees-Mogg the right person for the job? Because the mission ceased to be secret the moment the gangly, bespectacled, highly distinctive figure arrived at Heathrow Airport.

As we all know, the courts stopped the government from suspending parliament, so he took a characteristic risk and called an election, winning the largest Conservative majority since 1987.

It was his finest hour, but that majority might have been smaller if the public had seen the relaxed and funny Jeremy Corbyn on display here.

The former Labor leader recalled speaking to Boris on the phone during the campaign. “My hand will be firmly tied to the oar,” said Boris, “drive the boat forward.”

“If a hand is tied to an oar,” Corbyn pointed out, “the boat will go round in circles.”

“Good point,” replied the Prime Minister, who then said something in ancient Greek about boats and circles. It was arguably the strangest conversation between party leaders in British electoral history.

It was left to Matt Hancock to sum up the post-election mood for a cliffhanger at the end of the episode (although we all know what happened).

“There wasn’t a cloud on the horizon,” he said. ‘We had five years to solve all sorts of problems. It was going to be fantastic. . . so it wasn’t.’