Boris Johnson’s approval ratings are surprisingly high

PEOPLE WHO have worked with Boris Johnson rarely praise him for his efficiency or integrity. His editors during his career as a journalist have variously described him as a “cavorting charlatan” and “epically unreliable”. During the last Conservative leadership contest in 2016 Michael Gove, a fellow Brexiteer, launched his campaign by claiming that Mr Johnson “cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead”.

Yet on July 24th Boris Johnson will succeed Theresa May as Britain’s prime minister. After a two-month campaign, 66% of Conservative members voted for Mr Johnson to be the party’s leader, rather than Jeremy Hunt. The Tory faithful were undeterred by Mr Johnson’s reputation for chaos and chicanery. According to Ipsos MORI, a pollster, 55% of Conservative supporters think he is a capable leader. Some 36% reckon that he is more honest than most politicians. Those fractions are half as large among non-Conservatives.