During the weekend, I came across an interesting claim that got me thinking. It started with a colleague mentioning it, and then I heard it from my non-political friends as well. The claim suggests that Britain is in better shape politically than America, using Boris Johnson’s resignation as an MP as proof. While it may be true that the Conservatives in parliament are in a better state compared to the Republicans in Congress, there are several other factors to consider.
For one, America was able to remove Donald Trump through an election, whereas Britain didn’t have the same opportunity with Johnson. This is because, when given a choice, Johnson was up against someone, Jeremy Corbyn, who was even worse. The 2019 UK election wasn’t a great choice for voters, unlike in the US where both main parties tend to have a minimum set of standards. In the UK, the most important parties have faced scandals and investigations, including the police investigating the Scottish National Party. This lack of ethical conduct has no equivalent in the US Democratic Party.
Another point of concern in UK politics is the lack of choice for the position of Prime Minister. The last premier elected through a general election was David Cameron 13 years ago. Since then, successive Prime Ministers like Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak have come into power through internal workings within the Tory party. This system seems undemocratic when you compare it to the US, where winning the Republican primaries doesn’t automatically guarantee the White House.
The upcoming UK election will be the fifth in my lifetime that might be better labeled a “ratification” rather than a fair choice. Voters are simply deciding whether to keep or remove an unelected incumbent who has already made significant decisions impacting their lives. This system may be legitimate in a parliamentary context, but it leaves room for abuse.
However, the most concerning aspect of UK politics is the House of Lords. With over 700 unelected individuals, this upper chamber holds more power than the lower one and is even larger than it—a rarity among global political systems. These Lords can claim a tax-free allowance of up to £342 a day for attending sessions, and they can hold these positions indefinitely. The pursuit of entering the House of Lords has distorted politics, creating a sense of deference towards leaders like Johnson, fueled by the hope of gaining a noble position.
Ultimately, if you were a demagogue, which country would you choose to operate in—Britain or America?
Despite having a Republican Congress, Trump faced several challenges and limitations. His main accomplishment was a tax cut, something that previous Republican presidents might have achieved as well. He couldn’t build the wall he promised, and the Supreme Court often restrained him. While a UK Prime Minister doesn’t have the same influence over the judiciary or executive bureaucracy, the position still holds significant power in other areas. In normal times, the debate between Britain’s Napoleonic executive and America’s separation of powers is valid. However, in times like these, where a rogue leader could potentially be in charge, the debate loses its significance.
Britain is a country that can easily be swayed one way or another. It made significant changes to its relationship with Europe based on a slim margin of 52 to 48 percent in a referendum that was initially meant as a tactical maneuver within a political party. On the other hand, the US requires substantial barriers to pass even a minor constitutional amendment. This stark difference in the democratic process ironically puts the UK’s democracy at risk.
In the US, there have been instances of anti-democratic violence. However, from the British discourse, you wouldn’t even know that MPs have been murdered or that the party likely to govern next is under investigation for antisemitism. Additionally, Trump is turning 77 years old, while Johnson is only 58. If both leaders are determined to influence their respective democracies for the rest of their lives, Britain will have to endure this influence for a longer period.
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