Boris Johnson

The UK's prime minister from 2019 to 2022 led the campaign for Brexit — the UK's withdrawal from the European Union — which reshaped British politics and economics. His tenure included the "Partygate" scandal (holding gatherings at 10 Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns while the public was forbidden from visiting dying relatives), a parliamentary privileges investigation that found he misled Parliament, and a chaotic resignation. Johnson personified the populist era's blend of charisma, controversy, and institutional damage.