Infographic: How to be British prime minister

You can say what you like about the UK’s political leaders, but we certainly have a type. Upon Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson’s accession to head of the Conservative party in July 2019, he joined the 89 percent of British prime ministers who stepped into the government’s top job without first having won a general election outright as leader. In DG #36 we looked at this in the context of the other historical hallmarks of the holder of the highest office in the land – including a private education, being English by birth and a commitment to beardlessness.

This infographic was published in DG#36. Pick up a copy in our online shop or take out an annual subscription using the promotion code ‘SLOWNEWSDAY’ for 10 percent off.