penning newspaper columns and presenting the podcast rock and roll politics. maria margaronis is a journalist, who's written and presented a number of radio documentaries on the crises man—made and natural which have afflicted greece. ashis ray has half a century of explaining events here to his readers in india. a fulltime occupation in itself, you might think, but he's still found time to commentate on his beloved cricket. lovely to have you all new the studio. all together as well. so thank you for being with us. borisjohnson street, according to a ukrainian mp, could soon be found on maps for odesa, as it expunges the memorialisation of famous russians. assuming the british prime minister's visit to india this week is followed in due course by a free trade deal — something neither the european union nor the united states has pulled off — there'll probably be a thoroughfare named in his honour in mumbai, too. in this country, borisjohnson way might be a cul—de—sac. such is the growing contrast between mrjohnson�*s global reputation and his domestic one. despite championing the cause of ukraine in europe, there's been no finger waggling in his meeting with narendra modi for the indian prime minister's support for russia. modi, johnson, putin — populist leaders in the ascendant. by the end of this weekend, we'll know whether or not that holds true for france, too. steve, let us begin with boris johnson at home, however much he would rather we weren't concentrating on that, what has changed this workers and how potentially troublesome is that for mrjohnson? the potentially troublesome is that for mrjohnson?_ potentially troublesome is that for mrjohnson? ., ., mrjohnson? the mood of conservative mps they are — mrjohnson? the mood of conservative mps they are the _ mrjohnson? the mood of conservative mps they are the ones _ mrjohnson? the mood of conservative mps they are the ones with _ mrjohnson? the mood of conservative mps they are the ones with agency, - mps they are the ones with agency, everyone else can express opinions about him, they are the ones with the power to remove him and something moved on thursday, when the whips couldn't discipline them all, to vote against what labour was trying to do, which is o start an investigation, fairly soon, by one of the parliamentary select committees and the reason that is significant is we talk about what a conservative mp going to do, as if they were a collective all of the same mind, all of similar experience, actually tonnes of them are pretty new to national politics having got in in december 2019. a lot of the time when people say conservative mp also do this, they don't know, they aren't sure what to do, and they are still in that kind of mood, but, when you have kind of made something of a move to signal distance with the prime minister, that empowers you to do it again, so that empowers you to do it again, so thatis that empowers you to do it again, so that is one of the things that has changed. and the other is itjust feels as if this crisis for him is just not going to end, there is a corrosive quality to it, it has always been deadly serious to face an allegation of making rules, breaking them and lying about doing so, but there was a sense, sometimes it was going to fade but it hasn't. so the combination of the two, i think are significant. i so the combination of the two, i think are significant.— think are significant. i am struck on friday. _ think are significant. i am struck on friday, listening _ think are significant. i am struck on friday, listening to _ think are significant. i am struck on friday, listening to lord - on friday, listening to lord hayward, a former conservative mp who has been round since the 80 who was recalling the mood change when he was a young mp for margaret thatcher in that last year, before... i thatcher in that last year, before- - -_ thatcher in that last year, before... thatcher in that last year, - before..._ but thatcher in that last year, before... . ., ., ., but he before... i heard that too. but he said something _ before... i heard that too. but he said something interesting, - before... i heard that too. but he said something interesting, he i before... i heard that too. but he l said something interesting, he said last weekend, easter weekend as it was, in much of the, much of the country, much of the continent, he said he was reflecting the prime minister was probably all right for now, and his mood had changed in the space of less than a week because he had been talking to conservative mps. what do you any is the problem here for borisjohnson? is itjust he, you know, it keeps coming back at him? ., , ., , , at him? people are 'ust fed up with this, i at him? people are 'ust fed up with this. i mean _ at him? people are 'ust fed up with this, i mean that, — at him? people are 'ust fed up with this, i mean that, i— at him? people are just fed up with this, i mean that, i am _ at him? people are just fed up with this, i mean that, i am fed - at him? people are just fed up with this, i mean that, i am fed up - at him? people are just fed up with this, i mean that, i am fed up with | this, i mean that, i am fed up with it. we, _ this, i mean that, i am fed up with it we. i_ this, i mean that, i am fed up with it we. i dont— this, i mean that, i am fed up with it. we, i don't want to talk about this any— it. we, i don't want to talk about this any more, the thing that puzzles — this any more, the thing that puzzles me, this is a man who has been _ puzzles me, this is a man who has been known — puzzles me, this is a man who has been known to lie all his life, i think_ been known to lie all his life, i think it — been known to lie all his life, i think it was either his headmaster or house — think it was either his headmaster or house master at eton who wrote boris _ or house master at eton who wrote boris doesn't seem to his the rules apply— boris doesn't seem to his the rules apply to _ boris doesn't seem to his the rules apply to him. look at the brexit campaign, _ apply to him. look at the brexit campaign, the thing there is going to he _ campaign, the thing there is going to he no— campaign, the thing there is going to be no border between northern ireland _ to be no border between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, it is endless — ireland and the rest of the uk, it is endless the lies are endless and look at — is endless the lies are endless and look at... �* , is endless the lies are endless and lookat... �* , ., �* ., look at... but they haven't mattered apparently- — look at. .. but they haven't mattered apparently- look— look at... but they haven't mattered apparently. look at _ look at... but they haven't mattered apparently. look at the _ look at... but they haven't mattered apparently. look at the policy - apparently. look at the policy problems. — apparently. look at the policy problems, look— apparently. look at the policy problems, look what - apparently. look at the policy. problems, look what happened apparently. look at the policy - problems, look what happened during the pandemic. underneath the lies is a great _ the pandemic. underneath the lies is a great mountain of incompetence, and had _ a great mountain of incompetence, and bad administration and bad government. now i see why lying particularly matters, at the moment when _ particularly matters, at the moment when we _ particularly matters, at the moment when we have so many lies in international politics, when we have, _ international politics, when we have, you _ international politics, when we have, you know, putin's lies about what _ have, you know, putin's lies about what is _ have, you know, putin's lies about what is going on in ukraine. it is not an invasion _ what is going on in ukraine. it is not an invasion we _ what is going on in ukraine. it 3 not an invasion we are acting to defend ourselves. lies not an invasion we are acting to defend ourselves.— not an invasion we are acting to defend ourselves. lies matter, lies to the house _ defend ourselves. lies matter, lies to the house of— defend ourselves. lies matter, lies to the house of commons - defend ourselves. lies matter, lies to the house of commons matter, | to the house of commons matter, breaking _ to the house of commons matter, breaking your own rules matter, but it is to _ breaking your own rules matter, but it is to me _ breaking your own rules matter, but it is to me it — breaking your own rules matter, but it is to me it is like this is the sort — it is to me it is like this is the sort of— it is to me it is like this is the sort of cherry on the cake of a lot else that — sort of cherry on the cake of a lot else that has gone badly wrong. how was he received _ else that has gone badly wrong. firm? was he received in else that has gone badly wrong. finns" was he received in india, this else that has gone badly wrong. firm? was he received in india, this visit had been delayed because of covid but there had been a sense it was one that the indian government was keen on, just, as the british government was, and that perhaps he was a more attractive figure to many in india, certainly to the prime minister, than his predecessor theresa may, who went to india but whose visit was a bit of a flop really. whose visit was a bit of a flop reall . ~ ., , ., , whose visit was a bit of a flop reall.~ ., , ., , , really. well, over the years, boris has been a _ really. well, over the years, boris has been a popular _ really. well, over the years, boris has been a popular figure - really. well, over the years, boris has been a popular figure in - really. well, over the years, boris| has been a popular figure in india, his dishevelled _ has been a popular figure in india, his dishevelled hair— has been a popular figure in india, his dishevelled hair and _ has been a popular figure in india, his dishevelled hair and his- has been a popular figure in india, his dishevelled hair and hisjokes,| his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended _ his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to — his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to go _ his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to go down _ his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to go down well, - his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to go down well, so - his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, tended to go down well, so to - his dishevelled hair and hisjokes, i tended to go down well, so to that extent, _ tended to go down well, so to that extent, i_ tended to go down well, so to that extent, i think, _ tended to go down well, so to that extent, i think, he _ tended to go down well, so to that extent, ithink, he is— tended to go down well, so to that extent, i think, he is not _ tended to go down well, so to that extent, i think, he is not an- extent, i think, he is not an unpopuiar_ extent, i think, he is not an unpopular figure _ extent, i think, he is not an unpopular figure in- extent, i think, he is not an unpopular figure in india, . extent, i think, he is not an. unpopular figure in india, they don't — unpopular figure in india, they don't care _ unpopular figure in india, they don't care much— unpopular figure in india, they don't care much about - unpopular figure in india, they don't care much about what i unpopular figure in india, they don't care much about what is| unpopularfigure in india, they- don't care much about what is going on in _ don't care much about what is going on in this— don't care much about what is going on in this country, _ don't care much about what is going on in this country, so, _ don't care much about what is going on in this country, so, he _ don't care much about what is going on in this country, so, he was- don't care much about what is going on in this country, so, he was well. on in this country, so, he was well received. — on in this country, so, he was well received. but _ on in this country, so, he was well received, but unfortunately, - on in this country, so, he was well received, but unfortunately, for. received, but unfortunately, for him. _ received, but unfortunately, for him. if— received, but unfortunately, for him. if the _ received, but unfortunately, for him, if the timing _ received, but unfortunately, for him, if the timing of— received, but unfortunately, for him, if the timing of the - received, but unfortunately, for him, if the timing of the visit i received, but unfortunately, for. him, if the timing of the visit was meant _ him, if the timing of the visit was meant to— him, if the timing of the visit was meant to divert _ him, if the timing of the visit was meant to divert attention - him, if the timing of the visit was meant to divert attention from i him, if the timing of the visit was i meant to divert attention from what was going _ meant to divert attention from what was going on— meant to divert attention from what was going on in— meant to divert attention from what was going on in westminster, - meant to divert attention from what was going on in westminster, it- meant to divert attention from what was going on in westminster, it hasj was going on in westminster, it has failed _ was going on in westminster, it has failed spectacularly, _ was going on in westminster, it has failed spectacularly, and, _ failed spectacularly, and, certainiy. _ failed spectacularly, and, certainly, the _ failed spectacularly, and, certainly, the coverage i failed spectacularly, and, . certainly, the coverage that failed spectacularly, and, - certainly, the coverage that has come _ certainly, the coverage that has come out — certainly, the coverage that has come out in _ certainly, the coverage that has come out in the _ certainly, the coverage that has come out in the last— certainly, the coverage that has come out in the last two - certainly, the coverage that has come out in the last two days . certainly, the coverage that has i come out in the last two days have overshadowed _ come out in the last two days have overshadowed his— come out in the last two days have overshadowed his claims _ come out in the last two days have overshadowed his claims about. come out in the last two days have . overshadowed his claims about trade and defence — overshadowed his claims about trade and defence and _ overshadowed his claims about trade and defence and the _ overshadowed his claims about trade and defence and the rest _ overshadowed his claims about trade and defence and the rest of- overshadowed his claims about trade and defence and the rest of it, - and defence and the rest of it, certainly— and defence and the rest of it, certainly on _ and defence and the rest of it, certainly on day _ and defence and the rest of it, certainly on day one, - and defence and the rest of it, certainly on day one, it - and defence and the rest of it, certainly on day one, it was i certainly on day one, it was completely— certainly on day one, it was completely about _ certainly on day one, it was completely about the - certainly on day one, it was. completely about the debate certainly on day one, it was - completely about the debate at westminster _ completely about the debate at westminster.— completely about the debate at westminster. ~ . .,~ , westminster. which was taking place that da on westminster. which was taking place that day on the _ westminster. which was taking place that day on the first _ westminster. which was taking place that day on the first day _ westminster. which was taking place that day on the first day of _ westminster. which was taking place that day on the first day of the - that day on the first day of the visit to india.— that day on the first day of the visit to india. ., . ., .,. visit to india. correct and the fact that the motion _ visit to india. correct and the fact that the motion was _ visit to india. correct and the fact that the motion was passed - visit to india. correct and the fact that the motion was passed and i visit to india. correct and the fact i that the motion was passed and he has been _ that the motion was passed and he has been referred _ that the motion was passed and he has been referred to _ that the motion was passed and he has been referred to the _ that the motion was passed and he has been referred to the privilegesj has been referred to the privileges committee — has been referred to the privileges committee it— has been referred to the privileges committee it is— has been referred to the privileges committee it is bad _ has been referred to the privileges committee it is bad news, - has been referred to the privileges committee it is bad news, but- has been referred to the privileges committee it is bad news, but in. committee it is bad news, but in india. _ committee it is bad news, but in india. i— committee it is bad news, but in india. ithink. _ committee it is bad news, but in india, i think, the _ committee it is bad news, but in india, i think, the little - committee it is bad news, but in india, i think, the little saving. india, i think, the little saving grace — india, i think, the little saving grace his— india, i think, the little saving grace his might _ india, i think, the little saving grace his might have - india, i think, the little saving grace his might have had - india, i think, the little saving grace his might have had on. india, i think, the little saving . grace his might have had on day india, i think, the little saving - grace his might have had on day two, ithink— grace his might have had on day two, i think that _ grace his might have had on day two, i think that too — grace his might have had on day two, i think that too was _ grace his might have had on day two, i think that too was dogged _ grace his might have had on day two, i think that too was dogged by - i think that too was dogged by questions _ i think that too was dogged by questions regarding _ i think that too was dogged by questions regarding what - i think that too was dogged by questions regarding what wasl i think that too was dogged by - questions regarding what was going on back— questions regarding what was going on back home. _ questions regarding what was going on back home, and _ questions regarding what was going on back home, and as— questions regarding what was going on back home, and as much- questions regarding what was going on back home, and as much as - questions regarding what was going on back home, and as much as he i on back home, and as much as he tried _ on back home, and as much as he tried to _ on back home, and as much as he tried to deflect _ on back home, and as much as he tried to deflect it _ on back home, and as much as he tried to deflect it by— on back home, and as much as he tried to deflect it by talking - on back home, and as much as he tried to deflect it by talking about| tried to deflect it by talking about other— tried to deflect it by talking about other things. _ tried to deflect it by talking about other things, and _ tried to deflect it by talking about other things, and the _ tried to deflect it by talking about other things, and the brighter- tried to deflect it by talking about| other things, and the brighter side and so _ other things, and the brighter side and so on. — other things, and the brighter side and so on. but— other things, and the brighter side and so on, but i _ other things, and the brighter side and so on, but i think— other things, and the brighter side and so on, but i think at— other things, and the brighter side and so on, but i think at the - other things, and the brighter side and so on, but i think at the end . other things, and the brighter side| and so on, but i think at the end of the day, _ and so on, but i think at the end of the day, this— and so on, but i think at the end of the day, this tended _ and so on, but i th