End of the Road?

"The public has decided that Andrew, like Boris, is beyond the pale." 

Two powerful and privileged men are hurtling down a road, taking them to a cliff edge; and neither appears capable of avoiding their fate. Both engaged in behaviour deemed abhorrent to the public. Both sought to cover up, deny, delay, and deflect the inevitable when caught out. But, for both, the road is running out.

Boris Johnson's over-played bluster and gall isn't working anymore as the evidence mounts that he probably broke the law by attending the infamous garden party. His stalling, coupled with a non-apology in parliament, did further damage, that probably sealed his fate. Boris has shown himself bereft of common decency and an unwillingness to acknowledge the reality of his situation. 

Had the Metropolitan Police bothered to get off their bottoms and check the CCTV coverage of the garden, they’d soon establish the facts. Their willful blindness is telling. 

As Boris partied in Nos 10, he prevented thousands of heartbroken citizens the right to hold the hand of dying relatives under the threat of arrest. To then lie for months about his actions rubbed salt in their wounds. So, whatever the political calculations or the polls say, he must go. 

In one sense, Boris has done a great public service by exposing the falsehood that politicians serve the people. That founding tenet of the liberal democracies can’t stand up to scrutiny when the leader is openly acting in absolute self interest. And because Boris won't surrender like a man of honour, he will need removing one way or another.

Joining Boris on the road to misery is Andrew Windsor, aka 'Randy Andy’. He's fought an unsuccessful rearguard action to hold off his accuser, Ms Giuffre. Unfortunately, like Boris, he's done immense damage to the institution he’s supposed to serve. 

I can't imagine that US District Judge Lewis Kaplan ever thought he'd be ruling on the fate of a British royal. Nevertheless, Kaplan said yesterday the case against Andrew for allegedly sexually abusing Ms Giuffre may proceed, when a full airing of the evidence should be possible. 

I don't presume to know whether Andrew is guilty or not, yet his conduct is enough to merit serious questions. It remains baffling to me that a man under constant police protection can't produce evidence to rebuke claims he was at certain places at certain times.

I know from personal experience the movements of the royals are methodically logged by the Metropolitan Police. So it should prove easy for Andrew to rebut Ms Giuffre's claims if indeed he is innocent. Yet, therein lies the rub.

The Queen felt compelled to remove Andrew from all royal duties in response to this debacle. At the same time, veterans groups demanded he step aside because they were no longer willing to toast his health at regimental functions. 

Except for Andrew's hapless ex-wife, no one is willing to speak up for him. That doesn’t help much because Fergie is a thoroughly discredited figure. The royals are usually taciturn but can use back-door options to get their messages of support into the media. That's not happening. 

On the contrary, there is a suggestion that Prince Charles's people are briefing against Andrew to distance the future king from his brother. Shakespeare would get a gripping play out of this.

Having failed to stop the case against him in a New York court, Andrew has no good options left. He can't face the prospect of a high-profile trial with his daughters called as witnesses to affirm his movements. Plus, a trial would expose him to further scrutiny with the possibility that more accusers may emerge. Besides, ignoring the court action could result in a guilty finding with all the attendant harm.

Then he has the option of settlement out of court; but would amount to an admission no matter what legal spin the agreement contains. But, of course, that's assuming Ms Giuffre is willing to accept such a deal. She's proven herself robust in pursuit of Andrew no matter what her motives. 

In one sense, it's all academic; the public has decided that Andrew, like Boris, is beyond the pale. Whether Boris goes sooner or later depends on the next leak or how much damage the Tories are prepared to sustain. For Andrew, I’m afraid it is a slow boil until Ms Giuffre extracts a penance.


Meanwhile, hovering in the background is a malevolent figure. The role played by Commissioner Dick, of the Metropolitan Police, deserves examination. She held off conducting a thorough investigation into the shenanigans at Nos 10, while she knows more about Andrew's activities than is made public. Her officers will have detailed records of Andrew's movement that may throw light on the case. 

But I'm not holding my breath. Commissioner Dick has a teflon quality that both Boris and Andrew can only dream of.