Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister John Major attacked Boris Johnson with a ferocious attack yesterday over the government’s sleaze.
However, his administration was severely damaged by a string of scandals that occurred in the 1990s. This happened before Tony Blair’s 1997 defeat to the Conservatives.
When Sir John launched his 1993 campaign to return Britain back to its moral foundations of decency, respect for the law, and he left it open to allegations of hypocrisy, he opened up the possibility for such accusations.
The controversy surrounding extra-marital relations and paid lobbying made the drive a laughingstock over the next few years.
Ironically, the news about Sir John’s affair of four years with Edwina Currie (a minister) was only reported in 2002.
Yesterday’s interview with Sir John revealed that the main difference in the 1990s and the present was the fact that he took action to stop abuses by creating the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life.
“The striking distinction is that in the 1990s, I established a commission to address this kind of behaviour,” he said to the BBC.
“Over the past few days, we’ve seen today’s government try to defend such behavior.
It is not acceptable to sleep, it was inexcusable when I was there and caused me great pain and anxiety. It is unacceptable today and should be ended.
John Major (left), who launched the 1993 campaign to get ‘back on track’, left open to accusations of hypocrisy. David Mellor (right), among those ministers that had to step down
David Mellor and his Spanish holiday
David Mellor, culture minister in 1992 was the subject of kiss-and tell revelations by Antonia Sancha (actress with whom he was having an affair).
Despite a number of inappropriate details that were revealed, the PM stood behind his minister. These lewd details later proved to be fabricated by Max Clifford, celebrity publicist.
It was later discovered that Mona Bauwens had been the host for the Mellors during a family trip to Marbella in Spain. The Mellors left in September 1992.
Martin Bell (right), BBC war correspondent, stood in opposition to Neil Hamilton (left), as an antisleaze candidate. This ejected him from the Commons
Cash-for-questions
Oct 1994 saw the Tory government reeling from allegations that Mohammad Al-Fayed had given MPs money to enable them to question Parliament.
Neil Hamilton had to quit as junior minister, even though he denied the allegation.
Martin Bell (former BBC war correspondent) stood in opposition to Hamilton in Tatton, an anti-sleaze candidate. Bell was then ejected by the Commons.
In an effort to improve politics, Sir John set up the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life to address this scandal.
Ukip is currently led by Mr Hamilton.
In 1995 the Guardian alleged that Jonathan Aitken (pictured), then Treasury Chief Secretary, had allowed aides of the Saudi royal family to pay his £1,000 hotel bill at the Paris Ritz two years earlier
Jonathan Aitken’s ‘sword to truth’
In 1995 the Guardian alleged that Jonathan Aitken, then Treasury Chief Secretary, had allowed aides of the Saudi royal family to pay his £1,000 hotel bill at the Paris Ritz two years earlier.
Famously, he sued the newspaper and promised to remove the cancer of bent journalism from the nation with the simple sword truth and the shield fair play.
After the paper provided evidence to prove his innocence, he confessed to perjury.
After being imprisoned for 18 month in 1999, he has been ordained as Priest.