Boris Johnson 'must make a sincere apology at the party' if he wants to return as an MP

Frank Luntz said that Boris Johnson «could make a big difference to British society.» Photo: Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph

Boris Johnson should offer a «sincere apology» for partygate and «stop bashing Parliament» if he ever wants to return as an MP, one of his oldest friends said.

Frank Luntz, a veteran U.S. pollster who was at Oxford University with the former prime minister, told The Telegraph Chopper's Politics podcast: “He needs to mean it, not just say it. If you continue to berate the institution because you don't agree with how it treats you, you will never come back.

“Boris can do a lot for British society. I think we have a lot to learn from him, but not if you are irritable and do not understand what you have done, even in the most understandable circumstances.

“They worked hard. They were in close proximity. And you know what? I don't blame him for this. I blame him for being dishonest.»

Chopper's Politics Podcast — Luntz, Cash, White, Newell

Mr Luntz said he advised Mr Johnson «several times» when he was in Room 10, adding: «Boris is a friend of mine. I visited 10 Downing Street several times when he was prime minister; I had the opportunity to listen to the PMQs, find out how they were composed, and it was fascinating.

“He is a very talented person. He is very smart. He has the ability to reach people in parts of this country that no conservative has ever been able to. He's a hero when he walks into a pub in the north of England the way a Conservative would be escorted out. But he disappointed the country, and I did not expect this.”

He added: “I thought he recognized the opportunities he had and that he would rise to the occasion and in many ways he did, Ukraine is the best example. In the end, he achieved much of what he aspired to. But his time was cut because he didn't take it seriously enough.

“This is a tragedy. If Boris were sitting where you are now, I would say to him: “Why did you do this? Come on. I know how bad Covid was. You are sick, seriously sick. The National Health Service saved you. Why didn't you rise to the occasion, as in the Oxford Union, as you have done so many times before? And if something was wrong, you admit it.»

Frank Luntz and Boris Johnson

Mr. Luntz said that «in many ways he really is a Churchill», adding: «I would beg him to take this more seriously. I would beg him to admit that mistakes were made.

“Because – more in America than here, and I learned this from Tony Blair – if you admit you made a mistake, you will be punished. If you ask the public for forgiveness, they kick you. In America, if you fall, they give you a chance to get up. They're trying to punish you in Britain.»

Listen to Christopher Hope's interview with veteran Brexiteer, Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, polling legend Frank Luntz and Phil White of the Patriotic Millionaires using the audio player in this article or at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app