Boris Johnson’s ‘never apologise, never explain’ method is now his undoing

The guiding principle shared with Donald Trump has served the prime minister well – but has now been found out, writes Rob Merrick

It’s my party: the notorious site of social gatherings that reportedly broke a range of lockdown laws (EPA)

It is the method that has guided Boris Johnson in his scandal-plagued rise to the top, but it now threatens to destroy his political career over Partygate.

“Never apologise, never explain” is a principle shared with Donald Trump – and used to deflect criticism over everything from Mr Johnson’s past racist statements to Covid controversies.

For a politician propelled to power by the popularity of his willingness to say and do the unthinkable, refusing to retreat when under fire is an important part of the package.

We saw it when Mr Johnson would not apologise for saying veiled Muslim women look like bank robbers – or for blaming care homes for the appalling death toll from the pandemic.

And there is evidence that the approach works. One Columbia University study found that voters, far from welcoming a “sorry”, take it as evidence that a politician has done something bad and should be punished.

But now we have Partygate, and the public anger at Mr Johnson is at a scale not seen before. It has crashed his poll ratings and left his stay in No 10 hanging by a thread.

Now, you may be thinking “but he did apologise” – thinking of his words in the Commons earlier this month – but he didn’t really. And, anyway, that was far, far too late.

In fact, Mr Johnson apologised for failing to realise that tables laden with food and plonk constitute a party, an excuse so feeble that one Tory MP likened it to “entering a brothel and not realising women are selling sex”.

Before that, he told MPs there had been no parties, which was clearly untrue; and that guidelines were followed at all times, which was, errr, clearly untrue.

But imagine the prime minister had fronted up at the start, been honest with the public – and admitted gatherings that should not have taken place had, indeed, taken place.

It would have been bad, of course, very bad. There would have been – like now – an almighty row, demands for his resignation and, presumably, a police investigation.

There would not, however, be the cardinal allegation of having lied to parliament, which – if backed up by Sue Gray, or another investigation – will mean curtains for him.

Just as importantly, Mr Johnson could have made the case that the party he attended, while wrong in hindsight, was a thank-you for staff, and some people would have accepted that. It is hard to believe the anger and ridicule would be so overwhelming, or that backing for the prime minister would be wrecked, apparently beyond repair.

“Never apologise, never explain” took him so far – but failed when the offence of the Covid rule-maker being the Covid rule-breaker was so grievous and when the truth was certain to come out.