Lezard's New Statesman Rumour: The Tail That Wags the Boris Johnson Story!
The Mind-Boggling Twist in Lezard's New Statesman Article.
In a recent delve into the archives of the New Statesman, we stumbled upon a rather peculiar statement made by Nicholas Lezard in his article dated March 27th, 2023. Mr. Lezard, a seasoned writer for the publication, left us both baffled and curious with his cryptic words regarding Boris Johnson's friend, Darius Guppy.
This might come as a surprise to you, but I do not like Boris Johnson very much. Four years ago a literary agent approached me and suggested, over a decent lunch, that I write a book about Johnson, eviscerating him. The agent himself had been to Eton and told me a mind-boggling but plausible story about Johnson’s friend Darius Guppy (you know, the one who Johnson offered to assist in his plans to have a journalist beaten up), but I can’t tell it here because the New Statesman’s lawyers would have a seizure.
According to Lezard, a literary agent with Etonian roots regaled him with a "mind-boggling but plausible" tale about Darius Guppy. For those unfamiliar, Guppy is the same individual who was once involved in a notorious incident where Boris Johnson offered to lend a helping hand in a rather unsavoury scheme involving a journalist [Stuart Collier]. However, here's where the plot thickens.
We, The Collier Exposed Investigative Squad, took it upon ourselves to contact Mr. Lezard to shed some light on this enigmatic story. After a flurry of emails, one can't help but wonder if Mr. Lezard's source was simply "whistling in the wind." It appears that he needed to consult the very agent who whispered this intriguing narrative into his ear.
Yet, Mr. Lezard has left us flabbergasted by his response. Instead of helping us in our quest for truth, he has chosen to distance himself from the very story he once found "plausible." His reasoning? A rather peculiar demand for us to reveal our source of his private email address, which, as any seasoned journalist, columnist or critic knows, goes against the very principles of investigative journalism.
We find ourselves at a crossroads with two possible scenarios. Either Mr. Lezard's tale is nothing more than an attempt to elevate his own status by weaving a web of connections and intrigue, or there may indeed be a faint glimmer of truth to the story, and Darius Guppy's reputation has rendered him and his literary agent understandably reticent. Perhaps he feared a Peter Stanford style reckoning.
In either case, we issue a public call to action. If the literary agent who initially sowed the seeds of this mystery is out there, we urge you to step forward and share your insights directly with us. Nicholas Lezard may have chosen to withdraw, but the quest for the truth remains undeterred. In the spirit of responsible journalism, we promise to protect your anonymity, for we understand the sanctity of sources in our investigation.
“I will no longer be replying to communications from you.”
Nicholas Lezard
Regrettably, Nicholas Lezard joins Paul Connew as being wholly debunked commentators who attempted to piggyback on the Guppygate scandal and portray our target, Stuart Collier, as an innocent reporter.
Right of Reply: Response from Nicholas Lezard
Mr. Lezard's response to our inquiries has been nothing short of dismissive. He characterises our pursuit of truth as a "deranged vendetta" against Stuart Collier, as if seeking transparency and accountability is a crime. Lezard belittles the story about Darius Guppy, labelling it "trivial" and insisting it has no bearing on Stuart Collier, Johnson, or anyone else. It's curious that a narrative once deemed "plausible" has suddenly become a "non-story." He even resorts to threatening involvement with the New Statesman's legal team, as if that could dissuade us from our pursuit of the facts.