Boris Johnson will ‘delay” a cabinet reshuffle until autumn after his party’s double defeat. Labour insiders say that ‘Operation Domino’, which aims to recruit six Tory MPs to Labour is still in play.
The Prime Minister had been expected to shake up his cabinet before the 21-day recess of parliament. However, he reportedly said to allies that he needs’more time’ to consider the options.
Johnson was said to have made George Eustice the environment secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, and Anne-Marie Trevelyan trade secretaries ‘vulnerable’ to Johnson’s reshuffle. This is because Johnson will return to Number 10, Friday, 1 July, after an international series of duties.
A cabinet minister told The Times that those who are sacked in the re-jig coming in autumn could leave them to become ‘really vigorous agitators’ and end up undermining the government from the backbenches.
Boris Johnson seemed to downplay his pledge to continue as Prime Minister into the 2030s as he faced more Tory plotting. He made fun of his critics by stating that he plans to remain at the helm for another decade, in spite of recent poll disasters.
Mr Johnson said he was ‘thinking actively’ about fighting for a third term – which would almost certainly take him past Margaret Thatcher’s 11 years in power.
Now it is clear that about half of the Tory MPs wanted to move to Labour. Sources within Sir Keir Stern’s party claim that Operation Domino is still in place.
A party source, an ex-cabinet minister who once supported Boris Johnson, described that the Prime Minister is ‘completely delusional’, according to the Mirror.
A senior member of one of the Red Wall seats said that the PM is displaying ‘increasing signs of a bunker mentality. That never ends well.
Johnson, who arrived in Germany at a G7 conference after his comments in Rwanda about the Commonwealth summit were met with a fresh round of backbencher ire, seemed to take a more positive tone regarding his survival prospects as PM.
Boris Johnson will ‘delay” a cabinet reshuffle until autumn after the double defeat. Labour insiders say that ‘Operation Domino’, which aims to recruit six Tory MPs to Labour is still in play.
While the Prime Minister is pictured with leaders from the GC summit, Germany on Sunday, he was not expected to shake-up his cabinet of ministers prior to parliament going into recess on the 21st. According to reports, he told his allies that he would like’more space to think through’ these switches
Now it is known that about half of the Tory MPs wanted to move to Labour. Sources within Sir Keir Stern’s party (pictured Friday) claim that Operation Domino is still in play.
When asked by reporters if Johnson was delusional on this topic, Johnson replied: “This is a Government who is continuing to deliver for the people in this country. We have a lot of work ahead.
“In the near future we must get people out of the current global inflationary and post-Covid, Ukraine-exacerbated pressures. We also need to deal with the rising energy prices.
‘But at the same time we have got a massive agenda of reform and improvement, a plan for a stronger economy, whereby we have to reform our energy markets, our housing markets, the way our transport networks run, our public sector – we’ve got to cut the cost of Government.
“We have to ensure that we increase our economy through reducing tax burdens on businesses and families, and having better regulation.”
The Prime Minister mingled with the likes of US President Joe Biden and German chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Bavarian Alps at the summit which featured heavily on the fallout from Russian invasion.
He buttered up the leaders as he warned that ‘fatigue’ over the war could fracture the Western unity established in the first days of the conflict – as the UK, US, Canada and Japan kicked off the summit by banning imports of Russian gold.
Boris and Carrie, Boris’s wife arrived with him before taking photos with Britta Ernst (German Chancellor)
Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie launched a charm campaign to win world leaders at G7.
He was able to mingle with Olaf Scholz, German chancellor and US President Joe Biden.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister (backs towards camera), President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Union Commission and Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Boris Johnson with Justin Trudeau in the holding room ahead of the official welcome ceremony during the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minster Boris Johnson are seen during a bilateral meet during day one of the G7 leaders summit
Both leaders walked through the Bavarian Alps, and they discussed a number of topics as part his wooing offensive.
Boris seemed to be in good spirits when he met with the new German chancellor
They marched ahead of their bilateral meet at Elmau Castle in Kruen (Germany).
His wife Carrie Johnson was also present. She has been in controversy with Johnson over recent weeks.
The couple are facing allegations that the PM wanted to build a £150,000 treehouse fitted with bulletproof glass for his son at Chequers using money from Conservative donor Lord Brownlow.
The Prime Minister faces myriad challenges at home after two crushing by-election losses in Tiverton & Honiton to the Liberal Democrats and Wakefield to Labour.
Mr Johnson said he was ‘thinking actively’ about fighting for a third term – which would almost certainly take him past Margaret Thatcher’s 11 years in power.
Boris Johnson poses with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in front of Joe Biden during the 2022 G7 Leaders’ Summit
Boris and Carrie buttered up the leaders as he warned that ‘fatigue’ over the war could fracture the Western unity established in the first days of the conflict
Boris Johnson is the British Prime Minister. He speaks with Charles Michel (European Council President), Italy’s Prime Ministry Mario Draghi, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Joe Biden (US President). Ursula von der Leyen from Europe, Canada’s Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister) and Fumio Koshida (Prime Minister of Japan).
The Prime Minister faces myriad challenges at home after two crushing by-election losses in Tiverton & Honiton to the Liberal Democrats and Wakefield to Labour
Boris, who was at the summit appeared to relax his pledge to continue as PM in the mid-2030s as he faced more Tory plotting
Officially, leaders of the G7 nations have come together to promote the slogan: “progress towards an equal world.”
Yesterday, the PM made fun of his critics by stating that he will remain in power for another decade, despite recent by-election failures and dire polls
The summit saw the PM expressing concern about the fallout of trying to dethrone Vladimir Putin’s aggressiveness.
As he faced more Tory plotting, he appeared to be lowering his pledge to remain PM until the middle of 2030s.
Questioned by journalists whether he believed he was delusional regarding his survival chances, Johnson responded: “This Government is continuing to deliver for the citizens of this country. And we have a lot more work ahead.
“In the near future, we need to help people get through current global inflationary tensions and post-Covid-exacerbated inflationary forces that people are experiencing, as well as the rising energy prices that have been experienced.
Yesterday’s PM was a troll to his critics, making it clear that he plans to remain in power for at least another decade, regardless of the recent poll disasters.
Three weeks ago, he won the confidence vote at the 1922 Committee. However, he still faces mutiny by his party — more than 140 people voted for him to be thrown out.
He was also snapped with Justin Trudeau (Canadian prime minister) and Ursula von der Leyen, president of European Commission. The leaders hope that the summit will help them maintain a united front.
The summit saw the PM expressing obvious anxiety about the consequences of trying to stop Vladimir Putin’s aggressiveness.
However, Johnson spoke at the German gathering this morning and said that he hopes everyone realizes that Putin’s success will not be a matter of “paying the price” as he has.
The premier was asked whether he was concerned about support fracturing. He replied that he felt the pressure and anxiety were real, so we have to be truthful about this.
‘But the most incredible thing about the way the West has responded to the invasion of Ukraine by Putin has been the unity – Nato has been solid, the G7 has been solid and we continue to be solid.
‘But in order to protect that unity, in order to make it work, we’ve got to have really, really honest discussions about the implications of what’s going on, the pressures that individual friends and partners are feeling, that populations are feeling – whether it’s on the costs of their energy or food or whatever.’
Gold exports were worth £12.6billion to Russia in 2021, oligarchs are believed to have been using bullion to avoid the impact of sanctions.
Downing Street claims that London, a key hub for gold-trading, will make it difficult for Mr Putin to access financing his war efforts.
The G7, which is worried about Russia’s dependence on energy and has prevented several European countries like Germany and Italy from taking all measures to punish Russia for it, was also cautiously looking at China. China is considered a systemic competitor.
With a massive global infrastructure plan, the G7 attempted to bring together other important players as part of a wider gulf between Western allies and Russia/China.
Biden announced that the G7 would rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative and raise $600 billion. This money will be used to build roads and ports in countries with low income.
To reach the Global South further, Scholz invited South Africa’s leaders to attend the Alpine Summit on Monday.
While Argentina and Indonesia participated in a critical UN vote to condemn Russia’s actions, the three other countries abstained.
However, all of them are facing a hunger crisis caused by an increase in wheat and grain exports from Ukraine. India has also imposed limitations on wheat exports.