Isn't feeling better about yourself the same as trying to achieve a higher status? Buying new jeans, a new car, new shoes even though the old ones are working fine. We've all done it. You can define as achieving a higher status or making yourself feel better. It's the same thing.
Because all of those things stopped Johnson (replace his wife's ties with his own presonal ties to Russia) being backed to the hilt by the Tory party/Tory voters up until very recently.
Unless he's gone straight to Gerrard and said "Je voudrais allez a la France, Rodney", it would be remiss of Gerrard not to at least take a look at him. Particularly in this motorised wing back system we have been playing.