Boris Johnson was faced with Tory demands to shake up his top staff last night as Whitehall began a hunt to uncover the “chatty pig” who had betrayed him at the BBC.
William Hague was an ex-Conservative leader who demanded the Prime Minster pay more attention the opinions of senior ministers.
Former ministers also called for Johnson to get a big hitter’, like Sir Lyntoncrosby (Australian elections expert), to help him improve after weeks and weeks of trouble.
The No 10 operation was the focus of concern on Monday night. A senior Downing Street source gave an uncompromising briefing to BBC, calling Prime Minister’s CBI speech ‘shambolic’.
The address was so long that he had to leave his spot for over 20 seconds, and he rhapsodized about the TV cartoon character Peppa Pig.
The source stated that “it’s not just working.”
The ‘Cabinet must wake up, demand real changes or it will get worse.
“If they do not insist, he will just stop doing anything.”
The incendiary comment ignited a furious briefing war, with several government insiders blaming the Treasury – a claim furiously denied by allies of Rishi Sunak.
On Monday night, concern over the No10 operation grew when an’senior Downing Street’ source gave a harsh briefing to BBC, calling Prime Minister’s CBI speech “shambolic”.
Boris Johnson with his son Wilfred in Peppa Pig Land, New Forest
The Whitehall Hunt for the “chatty Pig” also began amid concerns that they might cause further harm to the Government.
It is an riff on last year’s ‘chatty-rat’ scandal when plans were released for a second Covid lockdown in the country.
Yesterday night it was reported that there were increasing frustrations in Treasury at No 10, over the handling of political announcements. Mr Sunak’s Department said they are concerned about the integration rail plan, and the recent row regarding social care.
Yesterday, Downing Street vigorously supported the Prime Minister and insisted that he was well-beinged and “very focused on delivering for our public”.
However, Tory MPs cautioned that U-turns, political misjudgements and poor discipline were destroying the party’s credibility as a competent party.
Yesterday, Johnson privately apologized to Tory MPs that he tried to prevent the suspension for Owen Paterson’s lobbying for former minister.
Former Cabinet Minister Jeremy Hunt claimed that the Government was just going through a rough patch.
It was reported last night that the Treasury at 10 is experiencing frustration over recent political announcements. The department of Mr Sunak said it was concerned about the planned integrated railway line and the recent dispute regarding social services.
‘It has been a bad month, I will absolutely concede that – not just on trivial issues like speeches going wrong but much more serious issues like parliamentary standards.
“But, I believe in the end that this government…will be judged upon reforms for ordinary citizens.
While Mr Hunt acknowledged that there was some ‘noise’ over Mr Johnson’s leadership, Mr Hunt insisted it wasn’t on the same scale as criticisms of David Cameron and Theresa May.
Richard Holden was an influential Tory MP from the 2019 intake. He told Conservative Home that the government is missing opportunities to spotlight the great work of such Conservative MPs at a national level.
It is simply making too many mistakes.
The spokesperson for Mr Johnson insisted that Johnson already consults with senior colleagues regarding key issues and added: “The Prime Minister has an entire cabinet to draw upon who offer advice, as one would expect.”
Rishi’s shiny spin team was the source of this squealer?
Jason Groves, Political Editor at the Daily Mail
It was, by all standards, a very damaging briefing. The context was toxic. After Boris Johnson’s ‘difficult speech’ to the CBI had ended, an’senior Downing Street source went on the offensive hours later.
The source said that there was concern in the building regarding the PM.
It’s not working. It’s time for Cabinet to demand real changes. Otherwise, it will only get worse. They won’t listen if he doesn’t.
Although the speech of the Prime Minister was difficult, it had been a good one. As the nation’s business leaders watched, at one point, he was unable to keep his place and began to mutter ‘Forgive’ every 20 seconds.
He also tried to make a point about Britain’s creative potential by sharing details from his recent trip to Peppa Pig World with the CBI. However, this failed. Allies admitted it was difficult workday.
The ferocity in his briefing caused aides to be taken aback and triggered the latest round of what one former insider at No 10 described as fear and loathing on Downing Street.
An ally to the PM asked: “Why would anyone at Downing Street put this out there?” It is so self-indulgent, so damaging – if that’s what you really think then you should do something about it or quit, not go bleating to the BBC.’
The speech mishaps – blamed on a junior aide handing the PM a print-out of his speech with the pages in the wrong order – are only the latest cause of disquiet.
According to reports, Rishi Sunak (pictured), the Chancellor asked Mr Johnson’s Chief of Staff to get out of the room on more than one occasion. Multiple sources yesterday suggested that it’s possible the Chatty Pig may be working in Government at No 10.
Many insiders at No 10 were shocked that Owen Paterson was suspended for lobbying. It caused a fortnight’s worth of bad headlines and slander about Tory corruption.
The whips office has been criticized for its poor performance and had to offer rebel MPs the evening off so they could not vote against the Government.
Last night, a hunt was launched to find the “Chatty Pig”, who had dripped poison into the ears of BBC employees. This threatened to end the fragile peace between PM Rishi Sunak and the BBC.
While Downing Street did not comment publicly, his aides suggested that the briefing came from the Chancellor, rather than from No 10.
They cited the BBC’s decision to alter the source of their quote from “No 10 source” to “senior Downing Street Source”.
One ally to Mr Johnson said, “That’s the BBC saying that it’s not No 10”. “I believe you need to look further down the street.
Many within Government feel the influence of Dominic Cummings who was the former chief advisor to the PM and has become Mr Johnson’s chief torturer.
Nearly a full year ago, Brexit’s mastermind quit No 10, after losing power with Carrie, the wife of the PM.
He left behind an extensive network of special advisors and aides in government. Some people still hold a loyalty to him, the No. 10 chief. His successor Dan Rosenfield failed to overcome it.
It is evident that this statement rings truer than the No 10/Treasury joint team, which was set up by Mr Cummings in an effort to strengthen relations between historic rivals.
The initial goal of this powerful unit was to seize power from the Treasury and stop the Government’s purseholders blocking the PM’s ambitious plans.
Sajid Javid, then the Chancellor of the time, was alarmist about it and decided not to remove his advisers.
However, his successor Mr Sunak turned the situation around quickly. According to one source, the unit now was a wholly-owned subsidiary’ of the Treasury.
Yesterday’s reports centered on Liam Booth Smith, the head of the unit. He is reported to have made little effort to hide his disgust for the PM.
Former think-tank chief has the same look as Mr Cummings, and may share some of Johnson’s criticisms.
An ex-colleague claimed that he had been ‘not discrete’ in his critique of the PM.
Last night, allies acknowledged that Mr Booth Smith had made disparaging comments about Mr Johnson before but insist that he’s not the Chatty Pig.
One source said that he was not unhelpful but had spent Monday afternoon calling around MPs to try and help the Government win a crucial vote on social services. Sources say that the source did not claim this is Liam, or from anyone at Treasury. “That suggestion is simply an attempt to divert the blame.”
There are still tensions simmering between No 10 and 11. Relations between Mr Sunak and Mr Rosenfield are said to have ‘not recovered’ from a bruising spending review last month in which the Chancellor was ordered to shell out a £35billion windfall rather than salt it away to help fund future tax cuts.
The Chancellor is reported to have requested the chief of staff for the PM to exit the room several times so that Mr Johnson could speak openly with him. However, multiple sources have said that yesterday it was possible that Chatty Pig might be operating in the centre of Government at No 10.
One said that the problem was that so many people are frustrated by the PM right now that it is difficult to pinpoint who may be trying to badmouth him.
Simon Case was Cabinet Secretary and his rise star is stalled ever since he formed an alliance last year with Mr Cummings.
Cleo Watson is a former close ally to Mr Cummings. She is currently based at 9 Downing Street as part of Cop26’s climate team.
Some also blamed Michael Gove’s aides in Number 10.
According to a senior source at No 10, the briefing was not given by anyone.
But the prim dismissal masks a hidden anxiety – if Mr Johnson’s staff cannot unmask the Chatty Pig swiftly, what damage might he or she cause the PM next?