As the U.S. and democracies worldwide face threats, Britain shows how to fight back

The UK’s political system shows resilience against threats to democracy, following the attempted erosion of checks and balances by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Background: Johnson faced accusations of undermining the democratic process by attempting to restrict public protests, sell off Channel 4, and weaken the Electoral Commission during his time in office.
* Most recently, a parliamentary committee report concluded that Johnson lied to Parliament over violating COVID restrictions.

Signs of resilience: Despite his efforts, the political system has fought back and demonstrated its ability to withstand norm-breaking actions.
* Institutions, lawmakers, and voters worked together to hold Johnson accountable for his actions.

Example of resilience: Conservative Party members pressured Johnson to resign as Prime Minister last summer, fearing electoral backlash due to his lies about pandemic gatherings.
* The party now faces a potential loss in the next election by a significant margin.

Lessons for democracies: The UK’s experience highlights the importance of collaboration between institutions, lawmakers, and voters to maintain a robust democratic process.

View original article on NPR

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