Although the Cabinet is united publicly in solidarity with Boris Johnson’s troubles, there will be speculation about a challenge to his leadership until his poll ratings rise.
So it’s interesting to learn that some of his possible rivals for the top job have already been building potential war chests.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has amassed an impressive £167,000 in the past 12 months.
A tidy £100,000 came from property developer Zachariasz Gertler, with £10,000 from Lord Harris of Peckham, who made his millions from carpets.
Although public support has been shown by the Cabinet for Boris Johnson in his struggle, speculations about Johnson’s leadership future will continue until his poll ratings increase.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the bookmakers’ favourite, has banked £50,000 from Dean Benson, whose e-commerce firm Visualsoft is based in Stockton, behind the so-called Red Wall, where the success of levelling up will be crucial to Tory election prospects.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has raised £15,000, while 2019 leadership runner-up Jeremy Hunt, according to research by The Spectator, has registered £15,000 this year.
But, oddly, nothing yet for Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is expected to run, and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — who appears to be running already.
- Opinion polls show Boris’s support is falling especially among women voters. So the party’s prospects will not be helped by the decision to axe the party’s women’s officer. I hear Tori Peck, the Head of Women’s Engagement at Tory Party HQ, whose job was to encourage more females into winnable seats, was made redundant after she declined to move to the party’s planned HQ in Leeds. She hasn’t been replaced.
Edwina, an ex-health minister, has a wise perspective on the Covid crisis. ‘I’d be wary of scientists talking politics . . . unless it was Margaret Thatcher, of course.’
Andy fails with his poppick
Andy Burnham from Greater Manchester asked voters to get the album by The Lottery Winners. He was speaking on behalf of his ex-Leigh constituency.
‘Help them into the top ten of the album charts,’ he said.
‘That’s not a mayoral order. But it’s not far off.’ Sadly, the pop picker’s endorsement proved as good as his Labour leadership campaigns — it stalled at No 11.
After Lord Frost quit as Brexit minister because he did not like ‘the direction of travel of the Government’, one Tory MP told a WhatsApp group: ‘I had no idea we knew what direction we were travelling in. Please tell me more.’
Go Caerphilly PM
Quick off the mark, someone is selling Boris Johnson cheese boards on eBay for £19.99. They appeared after the picture emerged of the PM’s aides tucking into cheese and wine in the Downing Street garden during lockdown.
The boards have Boris’s features etched on them and the motto: ‘Business Meeting, Not A Party.’ The PM’s been sent one, but he’ll want to avoid the Shropshire Blue. You might not like it.
Jeremy Corbyn attacked the Nationality and Borders Bill by attacking which platform? This Bill gives more power to deter illegal migrant crossers of the Channel. Press TV, which is controlled by the despotic Iranian government, answers the question.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro–Addy, a Labour member of Parliament was part of the wining Bradford team that defeated Winchester in the Christmas University Challenge. Streatham MP Bell correctly answered how many questions starters for ten? Er, none. Anthony Finkelstein (brother of Tory peer Danny, and ex-chief scientific advisor for National Security) was also on her team.
Wow!
One of my favourite Christmas cards was this shameless effort from the old bruiser John ‘Two Jags’ Prescott.
