Keeping a low-profile in the Conservative leadership race has boosted Boris Johnson’s bid for Downing Street, says a Liverpool Hope University academic
Dr Anthony Ridge-Newman, a senior lecturer at Hope and the head of conservatism studies in the UK, gave his take on Johnson’s strategy in an interview with broadcaster Al Jazeera’s website.
The former Mayor of London and Foreign Secretary remains favourite to be the next Prime Minister after coming top in the latest ballots on Thursday (June 20).
The remaining two candidates will go to a final vote in July.
Asked about the live BBC debate which candidates took part in earlier in the week, Dr Ridge-Newman said: "My colleagues and I all came to the same conclusion - we felt it was a bit of a rabble really.
"There is no clear narrative coming out because all the candidates are trying to compete with each other.
“Johnson has clearly been schooled in the last couple of weeks to make him come across as a lot more boring than the public has ever seen him before.
"I actually think it is absolutely the right strategy for him because although he didn't really engage much in the debate or offer anything new or particularly interesting, it was absolutely his to lose."