Boris Johnson
(Picture: PA)In one of the finest displays of political wordplay in a good while, Guardian columnist Marina Hyde has been praised for her description of Boris Johnson, the prime minister, as “Shagatha Christie”.
Not to be confused with ‘Wagatha Christie’ – the nickname given to Coleen Rooney when she accused Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories about her to the press – the moniker given to the PM by Ms Hyde comes as he faces a series of scandals over alleged rule-breaking.
On Thursday, the Electoral Commission issued fines to the Conservative Party totalling more than £17,000 for failing to disclose donations connected to the refurbishment of the flat at 11 Downing Street.
A day earlier, Allegra Stratton – a Johnson aide who was due to lead televised press briefings from Number 10 before they were scrapped – resigned from her government role after a video emerged of her joking about a Downing Street Christmas party last year.
The video sparked outrage among the public, who had been asked to stay at home when the party is alleged to have taken place.
During Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Johnson told MPs he is “sickened” and “furious” over the clip and has tasked the cabinet secretary to investigate.
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Yet talks of investigations has prompted ridicule from Ms Hyde, who joked in an article on Friday that it was “great to hear that a 57-year-old Downing Street man is keen to help the police” with inquiries into “a growing number of potential misdemeanours at his address”.
“Boris Johnson says that ‘of course’ he will tell the Met the truth, which pretty much guarantees they’ll never get to the bottom of it. When you want Sherlock Holmes but you have to settle for Elizabeth Holmes,” she wrote.
For those unaware, Ms Holmes is the Theranos founder currently facing charges of fraud for allegedly lying about her business to investors and patients – charges to which she has pleaded not guilty.
Ms Hyde continued: “Still, here he comes – Shagatha Christie, trying to deduce what the hell has happened this week.”
The remark refers to the several children Mr Johnson has had over the years. So many, Ms Hyde quips, that “it’s like jury service”.
Ouch.
Social media users loved the piece, causing “Shagatha Christie” to trend on Twitter and many to applaud Ms Hyde’s writing:
Marina Hyde articles are the only thing keeping me sane.
— Cromwell (@Cromwell606) December 10, 2021
Thank you, Marina.
Difficult to tell which bit is my favourite but I think this gets it “Then again, maybe the prime minister has had so many kids it’s like jury service. Every UK adult should expect to be called as godparent at some point” 😂😂😂 Bloody brilliant 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Carey (@Kersalic) December 10, 2021
#ShagathaChristie oh @MarinaHyde we do not deserve you 💕 https://t.co/mg7AeLQZXw
— Tracy-Ann Oberman (@TracyAnnO) December 11, 2021
There are questions for @metpolice in the brilliant @marinahyde piece. Saying the #DowningStChristmasParty can't be followed up "because of an absence of evidence" would effectively rule out the police investigating any crimes at all — what is the point of detective work? https://t.co/X3VqTaA0Sf
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 11, 2021
Worth the price of admission for the phrase ‘Shagatha Christie’ alone… https://t.co/rVwUtMKvV0
— Jon Holmes (@jonholmes1) December 10, 2021
Have been waiting for Marina Hyde’s take on it all. She never disappoints. https://t.co/jEYqSISWAO
— Tricia Marwick (@TriciaMarwick) December 10, 2021
This is glorious https://t.co/gf58N0jgtJ
— Con O'Neill (@cononeilluk) December 11, 2021
‘Shagatha Christie’ 😂🤔 https://t.co/6kAdQ0dWzu
— Sanjeev Bhaskar💙 (@TVSanjeev) December 10, 2021
Even Marina Hyde, the most flamboyant flourisher of satire we’re lucky to have writing in English, finishes her piece summing up the week by straightforwardly calling what’s going on ‘absolutely a disgrace’. https://t.co/8bnNDXcrmt
— Matthew Stadlen (@MatthewStadlen) December 10, 2021
What a real shame it would be if “Shagatha Christie” caught on…
