Boris Johnson wins by a nose in Britain’s unsatisfying election debate

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Boris Johnson won on two material questions: Brexit and the union

WHAT WITH the third series of “The Crown” on Netflix and Prince Andrew’s interview with the BBC, Britons have been treated to some remarkable drama in recent days. Tonight’s contribution from ITV—a head-to-head debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, the two serious candidates to be prime minister after the election on December 12th—was not of that class.

In terms of content, Mr Corbyn drew ahead on the topic of the National Health Service. So he should: it’s Labour turf, since the party created the NHS when in government in the 1940s, and the Tories have been in power long enough to take responsibility for the current strains upon it. And he did not do nearly as badly as Mr Johnson when an audience member asked the contenders how voters could trust them.

On style, Mr Johnson started weirdly, reading his opening statement from a piece of paper, while Mr Corbyn looked straight at the camera—presumably having either learned it or written it long enough in advance to give it to somebody to put on the autocue. Mr Johnson thus needlessly reminded the audience of his reputation for laziness and disorganisation. And the half-smile that constantly plays over his features makes him look as though even he finds what he is saying faintly ridiculous.

 

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