Johnson’s top team takes shape ‘In a move designed to show that he wants to unify the Brexit and remain wings of his party, Johnson has handed power to Matt Hancock, the health secretary, and Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden, both prominent remain voters. They will work with Sir Edward Lister, who was Johnson’s chief […]
G20 1) May demands Putin cease “irresponsible and destabilising activity” “Theresa May and her likely successor Boris Johnson attacked Vladimir Putin over his claim in a FT interview that liberalism had become “obsolete”, rebuffing his suggestion of a rapprochement in UK-Russia relations. In the interview the Russian president raised the prospect of a restoration of […]
ConHome Johnson interview 1) His Cabinet members must be committed to Brexit on October 31 “A Boris Johnson cabinet will be made up of people who are committed to leaving the EU on Hallowe’en, the Tory leader hopeful has said. In an interview with Conservative Home, the front-runner for the Tory leadership, said those who […]
MPs prepare to block no-deal plans “MPs will threaten next week to shut down the government if Boris Johnson defies parliament and tries to take Britain out of the European Union without a deal. In a cross-party move to thwart the frontrunner in the Tory leadership race, the Commons will vote on a plan to prohibit […]
Johnson pledges ‘do or die, come what may’ Brexit on 31st October ‘Boris Johnson has issued a “do or die” pledge to leave the EU with or without a deal on October 31, prompting warnings that his strategy would plunge Britain into a general election and hand the keys of Number 10 to Jeremy Corbyn. […]
Leadership 1) Johnson to fight back against charges he is avoiding scrutiny “Boris Johnson begins a fightback today with the first of a series of public appearances intended to dispel accusations that he is hiding from scrutiny after police were called over an argument with his partner. He will attempt to highlight his campaigning credentials […]
Hunt ups pressure on Johnson by calling him a “coward” ‘Jeremy Hunt has accused Boris Johnson of being a coward for avoiding public scrutiny as pressure mounts on the Tory frontrunner to address the row with his girlfriend that led to police being called. In his most personal attack on his leadership rival so far, […]
Hunt allies suggests Johnson is ‘security risk’… “The Tory leadership contest erupted in acrimony last night as Jeremy Hunt said Boris Johnson did not “deserve” to lead the country unless he answered questions about his “character”. In an astonishing escalation of hostilities, cabinet allies of Hunt claimed that Johnson’s colourful private life meant he was a security […]
Johnson draws up plan for early election… “Boris Johnson is drawing up early election plans as part of his preparations for No 10 as a poll suggests that almost two thirds of Tory members would support a pact with the Brexit Party. The latest YouGov poll for The Times, which was taken before news broke of the […]
Gove supporters cry foul as Hunt and Johnson progress to members’ vote “Boris Johnson’s supporters boasted last night that they had exacted revenge on Michael Gove after Tory MPs chose Jeremy Hunt to be his challenger in the race to become Britain’s next prime minister. Mr Gove was eliminated by only two votes in a final ballot […]
Johnson supporters ‘plot to knock Gove out’ as front-runner heads to the membership vote… “Supporters of Boris Johnson will on Thursday mount an operation to derail Michael Gove’s leadership hopes as Conservative MPs decide the final two candidates to be prime minister. Mr Gove has never been forgiven for stabbing Mr Johnson in the back during […]
Raab eliminated, as Johnson and Stewart gain ground in second ballot ‘Mr Johnson cemented his place as the overwhelming leadership favourite by winning 126 votes in a second ballot of Tory MPs. When just two candidates remain they will go forward for selection by party members. Dominic Raab, 45, was eliminated after failing to win […]
Team Johnson allegedly hopes to help Hunt through to the final ‘In an extraordinary allegation, senior Tories told The Sun that MPs on Boris’ books were desperate for their man to face off against the struggling Foreign Secretary – to avoid Michael Gove…One Tory told The Sun: “MPs on Boris’ team are looking at lending […]
Hancock backs Johnson… “Matt Hancock endorses Boris Johnson’s campaign for Downing Street today, pledging to be a “voice of moderation” for the man who will “almost certainly” become prime minister. The health secretary dropped out of the race on Friday having won 20 votes in the first ballot of MPs and accepting that the Conservative […]
Pressure gathers on Johnson over Brexit policy – but his bandwagon rolls on. Gove and Javid pitch for posts under him… “Two of Boris Johnson’s rivals — Michael Gove and Sajid Javid — used interviews with The Sunday Times to issue coded job applications…Last night he won the backing of the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, […]