The Spectator contained a letter to the editor from one of its own columnists (the sort of thing that makes me a faithful if not constant reader of the magazine) concerning the appearance of Boris Johnson on his BBC radio show. The subject of the show – this was before the move to 10 Downing Street – was Samuel Johnson, and the columnist, Matthew Parrish, wrote: “Boris Johnson proved a sparkling, energetic, and erudite champion of his namesake…”
There are people, at least in this country, who compare Britain's new prime minister with our PM (president manqué). But can anyone imagine Trump being described as “sparkling” or “erudite” on any subject, let alone that of a 18th Century writer?
