Boris Johnson's 2022 mistakes are Rishi Sunak's best guide to avoiding a re-run in 2023

Britain's most tumultuous political year in decades featured three prime ministers and the passing of a monarch

Rishi Sunak, right, served as Boris Johnson's chancellor. Getty Images

When Boris Johnson switched on the Christmas lights attached to the six-metre tree in Downing Street last year he asked the gathered children a question with a seemingly straightforward answer.

“Do you think this Christmas will be considerably better than last Christmas?” the prime minster asked.

“Yes!” the excited voices answered.

Britain was nervously watching the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, unsure if vaccinations would work but knowing that 2021 had been another slog through lockdowns and job uncertainty.

But the man who had led throughout the pandemic had no such misgivings about his own post. An 80-seat majority in parliament, reasonable showings in the polls and he had seemingly brushed off allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in the building behind him.

But now, 12 months on, the man who returned to No 10 Downing Street on Wednesday after a short Christmas break was Rishi Sunak, previously Mr Johnson's neighbour as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The lessons from his predecessor but one ― Liz Truss was briefly prime minister in the autumn ― could shape the pressures Mr Sunak will face in 2023.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lights the Christmas tree in Downing Street in December 2021. Getty Images

The signs then suggested that 2022 would be a year of recovery and rejoicing, but it turned out to be one of the most grimly momentous years of turmoil in British and European politics.

Calculated or otherwise, Mr Johnson seized the opportunity to show statesmanlike leadership when he supported Kyiv with weapons and money after Russia invaded.

As Ukraine fought for its life, the Partygate scandals appeared to dissipate, replaced by a furore over increasing national insurance contributions by 1 per cent and a £15 billion package to help poorer people.

But Russia’s failures meant the focus turned back on Mr Johnson, with the many slights from MPs in his own party resurfacing.

Boris Johnson's time as British Prime Minister - in pictures

Boris Johnson became UK prime minister in July 2019, left, and resigned three years later in July 2022, right. Here 'The National' looks back at his colourful time as leader of the country. Getty Images / Reuters

Boris Johnson reads a statement outside 10 Downing Street, formally resigning as Conservative Party leader. PA

Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson attend the National Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2022. Getty Images

Boris Johnson addresses the media after surviving a confidence vote in his leadership, in June 2022. PA

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, announcing that Mr Johnson had survived a confidence vote in his leadership at the Houses of Parliament in June. PA

Mr Johnson chats with residents in a Diamond Jubilee-themed room as he makes a constituency visit to Sweetcroft care home in Uxbridge, in May 2022. Getty Images

Boris Johnson reads the findings of the Sue Gray report into gatherings on government premises while Covid-19 restrictions were in place, in his office in No 10, Downing Street in May 2022. Photo: Downing Street

An image of a gathering in the Cabinet Room in No 10, Downing Street in June 2020 on the prime minister's birthday was released alongside the Sue Gray report. Photo: Cabinet Office

Boris Johnson with a Mark 3 shoulder launch missile system at Thales weapons manufacturer during a visit to Northern Ireland for talks, in May 2022 in Belfast. Getty Images

Mr Johnson having a turban placed on his head at Gujarat Bio Technology University, during his two-day trip to India in April. Getty Images

Mr Johnson after apologising to MPs for the 'partygate' fine he had received, in the House of Commons in April. AFP

Mr Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walking in central Kyiv, in April. AFP

Mr Johnson arrives for a media interview at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, in March 2022. Getty Images

Mr Johnson speaks with officers as he makes a constituency visit to Uxbridge police station in December 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson observes an early morning Merseyside Police raid on a home in Liverpool as part of 'Operation Toxic' to infiltrate county lines drug dealings in December 2021. Getty Images

Boris Johnson during a visit to Westport Care Home in Stepney Green, ahead of unveiling his long-awaited plan to fix the social care system, in September 2021. Getty Images

Prince Charles looks on as Boris Johnson attempts to open his umbrella at the National Memorial Arboretum in Stafford, in July 2021. Getty Images

President of the European Council Charles Michel, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Mr Johnson and Italian PM Mario Draghi pose for the leaders' official photo during the G7 summit in Cornwall, in June 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses with his wife Carrie in the garden of No 10, Downing Street following their wedding at Westminster Cathedral, in May 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson visits Hartlepool after the Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, in March 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson smiles during a televised press conference at No 10, Downing Street in February 2021, as he announces a phased exit from the country's lockdown measures. Getty Images

Mr Johnson gives a thumbs-up gesture after signing the Brexit trade deal with the EU in No 10, Downing Street, in December 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet for a dinner to try to reach a breakthrough on a post-Brexit trade deal, in December 2020 in Brussels. Getty Images

Mr Johnson with a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 candidate vaccine, known as AZD1222, at Wockhardt's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, in November 2020, in Wrexham, Wales. Getty Images

Mr Johnson drills during his visit to Exeter College in September 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson holds crabs caught on the Carvela at Stromness Harbour in July 2020, during a visit to Scotland. Getty Images

Mr Johnson holds a painting of a ladybird during a visit to The Discovery School in West Malling, in July 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds applaud for key workers outside No 10, Downing Street, in May 2020. Getty Images

Boris Johnson appears on monitors for a meeting in London. The prime minister chaired the morning update meeting remotely as he was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. Reuters

Boris Johnson makes a televised address to the nation from inside No 10, Downing Street, with the latest instructions to stay at home to help contain the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020. AFP

Mr Johnson attends the launch of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit at the Science Museum in London, in February 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson is greeted by staff at No 10, Downing Street, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to form a new government in December 2019. PA

Mr Johnson and his partner Carrie enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson drives a digger with the words 'Get Brexit Done' inside the digger bucket through a fake wall emblazoned with the word 'GRIDLOCK', during a general election campaign event in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson eats pie on the campaign bus in Derby, on the final day of campaigning before the general election in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson takes a turn in goal during the warm up before a girls' football match between Hazel Grove United JFC and Poynton Juniors in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses with workers as he is given a tour of Wilton Engineering Services as part of an election campaign trail stop in November 2019, in Middlesbrough. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses for a photo wearing boxing gloves during a stop on his general election campaign trail in Manchester, in November 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson eats a rock sweet which reads 'Back Boris' during a general election campaign trail stop in Blackpool, in November 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson leads a bull around a pen as he visits Darnford Farm near Aberdeen, Scotland, in September 2019. Getty Images

Former US president Donald Trump and Mr Johnson arrive for a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in August 2019, in Biarritz, France. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth welcomes Mr Johnson as the newly elected leader of the Conservative party and invites him to become prime minister and form a new government, at Buckingham Palace in July 2019. Getty Images

The prime minister became the first in office to be given a fixed penalty fine ― for breaking lockdown rules ― as was his chancellor, Mr Sunak.

The much-awaited Sue Gray report on Partygate raised troubling questions on the abnegation of leadership at the top of government.

As the political temperature rose Mr Johnson went for an eight-day foreign summit dash to Germany, Rwanda and Spain hoping the international stage would provide respite and time to forget.

Alas, he arrived home to the brewing scandal involving groping allegations against his deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher.

His obfuscation tricks finally ran their course after Mr Johnson claimed he had not been warned about previous complaints against Mr Pincher, only for a retired senior civil servant to very publicly contradict him with irrefutable evidence.

Ministers bolted from his cabinet quicker than horses from a blazing stable. Holed up in the house upon which he had brought so much disrepute, Mr Johnson finally resigned in July.

A scorching summer of endless leadership debates ensued.

Queen Elizabeth II with Liz Truss at Balmoral, where she invited the Conservative leader to form a new government. PA

The winner, Ms Truss, travelled to Balmoral Castle to formally take power only for Queen Elizabeth II to die two days later.

Mourning and world leaders descended on London, forcing a political hiatus. The queen was buried and Ms Truss unearthed her baffling policy of unfunded tax cuts to stimulate growth.

The markets disagreed, the pound crashed, as did many mortgages and she was out of office within 50 days.

Mr Sunak became the first British-Asian prime minister, his main focus to repair the damage of the last two incumbents.

Stability of sorts arrived, bar the possibility of a general strike by public sector workers on top of a cold snap that could well test Britain’s energy resources.

Mr Johnson’s promise of Christmas cheer in 2022 suffered the same fate as most of his pledges. Yet there is some optimism that his cherished Brexit may be heading to a sensible conclusion.

A more balanced relationship between Mr Sunak and Europe’s leaders could at last deliver an agreement in 2023 that resolves much of the distrust and lost trading opportunities.

Rishi Sunak wins battle to become UK prime minister - in pictures

Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech outside Number 10 Downing Street. Reuters

King Charles III invites Mr Sunak to become prime minister and form a new government in an audience at Buckingham Palace. PA

Mr Sunak promised to bring stability amid what he called a “profound economic crisis”. PA

The new prime minister is applauded as he enters Number 10. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street

Mr Sunak is greeted by Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Simon Case as he enters 10 Downing Street. AFP

A worker loads a removal van with boxes outside 10 Downing Street. Reuters

Members of the public wait for the arrival of Mr Sunak near Downing Street. AP

Staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office watch from the windows as Mr Sunak arrives in Downing Street. PA

An Indian artist in Mumbai creates a painting to congratulate Mr Sunak on becoming prime minister. EPA

Mr Sunak arrives at Buckingham Palace. PA

Incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with a wave. AFP

Rishi Sunak is greeted by colleagues upon his arrival. AFP

Conservative MPs applaud as Rishi Sunak arrives. Reuters

Rishi Sunak departs after making a statement inside the Conservative Party's headquarters. PA

Mr Sunak meets the 1922 Committee in Parliament after he was announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party when Penny Mordaunt dropped out. PA

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces Mr Sunak as the new leader of the Conservatives and therefore the prime minister. PA

Members of the media work outside No 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's prime minister, in central London, as they await announcements. AFP

Mr Sunak leaves his campaign office in London. AP

A billboard of Liz Truss, the departing prime minister, in London. Bloomberg

Members of the public look through the gates into Downing Street. Reuters

Mr Sunak leaves his home in London on Monday morning. AFP

Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt speaks to the media on Sunday. Ms Mordaunt pulled out of the race moments before the deadline for nominations. PA