United Kingdom

which hasn't helped Johnson's muddled response as he tries to avoid displeasing anyone and ends up pleasing no one. How far from the heavy, swift hammer he wielded against earlier rebels. I guess with Brexit looming and about to come to a crisis after the US election results, he has to try to pick his fights.

I'm not clear how much of it is libertarian in the same way I understand some of the US right-wing reactions, and how much is just contrarianism mixed with attention-seeking, sometimes opportunism (see Farage), or plain bloody-mindedness about anything that makes life more complicated in the short term.

And yes, the Johnson regime's conduct throughout hasn't done anything to instil confidence or co-operation.