Boris Johnson would do well on the comedy circuit – he uses all the tricks of the trade

It's a good act – I just wish he wasn't running the country with it, writes Katy Brand

The PM during his speech at the Conservative Party Conference on Wednesday (Getty)

It is sometimes said that “politics is showbusiness for ugly people”. Well, I am not about to start rating people in order of their perceived physical beauty – some of the most attractive and charismatic people I have ever met will not be troubling the catwalks of Paris any time soon – however, the idea that politics is the cousin of showbiz has always interested me.

Donald Trump has most recently been cited as the ultimate political showman, putting razzle-dazzle above policy or public service every time. But it goes back much further than that. Politicians have always played exaggerated versions of themselves, picking the parts that seem to appeal most to their core voters.

George W Bush was another politician who played up to his perception among the public – although Trump is in a league of his own on that front. There are those who say that Bush Jr was nothing like the ignorant president he seemed to be. They cite footage of his early political career where he is fairly well-informed. And the Texan accent is much fainter. It was only later that he adopted the folksy tone and dialled up the dumb. Since Bush stopped being president, the real him has come back into focus, to such an extent that he now counts Michelle Obama as a close friend and confidante. But while he was in office? Well, if this is showbiz you gotta have an act, baby.

Which brings us neatly to our own dear leader, Boris Johnson, who took to the stage this week to give his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Much was expected, though the specifics were vague. If you were expecting a sober acknowledgement of the UK’s current difficulties, coupled with a well thought through plan for a difficult road ahead full of detailed policy announcements, you would have been disappointed. If however you were expecting a big performance from a legendary public speaker that would entertain and even reassure you, then you would have been delighted. It would have been well worth the ticket price.

There is a dubious notion that Johnson is a gifted orator. I do not agree. However, I will concede that he is a gifted comic. He knows all the tricks it takes any comedian years to learn. Johnson is quite instinctive about it. The preposterous character – his clown: the unprepared prime minister – is well honed now. He ruffles his hair, he skews his suit, he lumbers onto the stage, looking around him, faintly amused to be here – HERE, what me? Here?? – a brilliant piece of technique. The audience is already smiling. This is going to be brilliant. And then we’re in – a mischievous gag to test the temperature of the room – shout “BEAVER” and see how they react – they’re laughing! Good, good – this is my crowd. Every comedian has a gag we use to test the room. Boris barely needed to use his – these people, his fans, had been queuing around the block, waiting for him to appear on his own special stage.

Johnson’s former boss and editor Max Hastings wrote this week that Boris Johnson had a good thing going as an after dinner speaker, a comic entertainer. I can well believe that he would be enormous fun to watch at a corporate awards event after a bottle of Malbec and the usual herb crusted rack of lamb.

Jeremy Vine tells a jaw dropping story of seeing him pull the same unprepared act twice, and bringing the house down. I would roar with laughter at this guy, this “politician” who can barely use a door properly and seems to have no idea where he is or what he is supposed to be saying. It’s a good act, this “Boris Johnson”. It would do well on the comedy circuit, where it belongs. I’d just rather he wasn’t also running the country.