Outrage over parties at Number 10 during the Covid lockdown, sleaze allegations and Tory revolts have sent Boris Johnson’s popularity ratings tumbling. Simon Walters, Daily Mail assistant editor, has talked to many people who are closest to the Prime Minister to see if they believe he will be able to recover in the new year.
Tory MPs calling on Boris Johnson to ‘get a grip’ of a Downing Street machine that has looked chaotic in recent weeks should be aware of a telling incident.
Johnson’s trademark political trick, reversing from his pre-prepared speech to ad libbing caused quite a stir.
The crowd loved it.
Johnson was not supposed to announce the policy, even though he received standing ovations.
The media proclaimed it another Boris ‘gaffe’ and an aide had to clear up the mess.
Later, I’m told, when that aide cast him an accusing look, Mr Johnson said: ‘There’s no point saying anything, I’m not going to change.’
In the past few days, I spoke to over 20 Tory MPs and ministers and officials, some of whom are close friends or have worked with Johnson for more than two decades. They all agreed on one thing. Johnson will not be able to fight the next election if he doesn’t fix his dysfunctional government. This could only happen in two years.
The first signs of Cabinet discontent over possible Covid restrictions have been spotted in rows over No10. A mass Tory backbench rebellion and several sleaze allegations have led to speculations that were unimaginable three months ago.
Outrage over parties at Number 10 during the Covid lockdown, sleaze allegations and Tory revolts have sent Boris Johnson’s popularity ratings tumbling, SIMON WALTERS writes
Strains with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and newly appointed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were clearly visible at this week’s Cabinet crisis meeting on Covid
Johnson and his No10 team can be credited with most of these issues.
Of course, part of Johnson’s complex political character thrives on chaos because he knows he’s at his best when he seizes victory from the jaws of defeat at the last moment, with one simple wisecrack or a Churchillian performance.
He survived a similar disastrous first spell in London as Mayor, 2008 with errors, scandal allegations, and resignations. However, he made a comeback.
And he did so by bringing in some trusted big hitters to do the political heavy-lifting behind the scenes, leaving him to do what he does best, spreading his Boris ‘boosterism’ around the capital.
However, now that he’s Prime Minister, eccentric performances like his recent address to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) – in which he started talking about a recent trip to Peppa Pig World – run the risk of giving the impression that he sees the crowd-pleasing antics that made him popular as mayor will do the same in a much more serious role.
And in truth, they won’t.
One of his team was said to be taken aback when, after scanning a copy of the CBI speech prepared for him, unimpressed Mr Johnson gave a three word reply: ‘Where’s the jokes?’
Certainly, Boris without the humour wouldn’t be Boris. But in the words of one of his former campaign chiefs: ‘Becoming a laughing stock PM is no joke.’
Certainly, Boris without the humour wouldn’t be Boris. But in the words of one of his former campaign chiefs: ‘Becoming a laughing stock PM is no joke’
According to some sources, the recent resignation of Brexit negotiator Lord Frost was connected, in part, to concerns about Mrs Johnson’s eco-campaigning influence on policies, such as a drive to net-zero carbon emmissions
Paradoxically, while refusing to appoint the kind of strong figures who would make No10 work more efficiently, Mr Johnson, who, unlike some of his predecessors like notoriously moody Gordon Brown or thin-skinned John Major, rarely displays real anger – rather he’s said to stage mock temper tantrums to vent his frustration.
‘He stomps round shouting “I am king here!” or “I am the fuhrer here! Why can’t I get this done?”’ an aide said. ‘He is clowning around, but the frustration is real.’
What is the source of all this frustration?
He is said to be suffering as he does not have a similar personal relationship with the No10 staff. They are all younger than his wife Carrie (24 years).
One MP said: ‘They don’t know him well enough to give him what he needs. He doesn’t mind in the slightest if you shout at him to tuck his shirt him or pull his trousers up. But no one in Downing Street does that and it shows.’
His inner circle is considering persuading him to get a new No10 in the New Years.
The idea was to replace Dan Rosenfield (his ineffectual chief assistant) and Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary, with persons who possess greater authority.
‘When Dan and Simon walk into a room barely anyone notices, let alone pays attention,’ on Downing Street insider said.
If it weren’t for Mr Johnson’s recent Cabinet reshuffle, some of Johnsons most senior team members would also face the threat of being fired.
A Johnson loyalist said he is ‘spitting blood’ at the way he believes Chief Whip Mark Spencer and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg talked him into the doomed attempt to get former minister Owen Paterson off the hook over corruption allegations in early November.
A Johnson loyalist said he is ‘spitting blood’ at the way he believes Chief Whip Mark Spencer and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) talked him into the doomed attempt to get former minister Owen Paterson off the hook over corruption allegations in early November
Those close to the Prime Minister say Rees-Mogg is the ‘anonymous’ Cabinet Minister widely referred to as being on the brink of quitting over potential new Covid restrictions.
Mr Johnson’s relations with fellow Brexit cheerleader Mr Rees-Mogg are said to have reached such a low point that one person who works with Mr Johnson observed cryptically: ‘The question is: will Jacob walk before he is pushed?’
Strains with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and newly appointed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were clearly visible at this week’s Cabinet crisis meeting on Covid.
One Cabinet Minister said: ‘Rishi was furious at plans for new curbs and tried to stay quiet but was forced to say a few words by the PM. Liz claimed she was on another call, and then disappeared. They don’t want to upset [Tory]For the event of a contest for leadership, it is the MPs. Shame on them.’
A senior aide said: ‘The Cabinet meeting was a watershed. It is the first time the Cabinet stood up to Boris – and he blinked first.’
Some believe that structural changes are necessary to ensure that government policies remain coherent. They also need to strengthen links with Tory MPs.
‘He is in his Downing Street bunker, surrounded by teenagers who have more power than backbench MPs with 40 years’ experience,’ complained one grandee.
Mr Johnson’s allies are also keenly aware of the need to tread gently around Carrie, who recently became a mother for the second time, and is a political force in her own right with links to government aides and ministers.
According to some sources, the recent resignation of Brexit negotiator Lord Frost was connected, in part, to concerns about Mrs Johnson’s eco-campaigning influence on policies, such as a drive to net-zero carbon emmissions.
Traditionalist Torys also worry about her support for controversial trans and gender issues.
One of Mr Johnson’s best known advisers told me: ‘Boris needs a functioning Downing Street operation and a clear Conservative agenda instead of whimsical ideas and erratic pronouncements.’
And, the adviser added, the Covid crisis has made it all the more vital: ‘In government, competence breeds competence – even more so at times of national uncertainty.’