The War for Johnson's Ear
For anyone who has had the misfortune to study Tudor court politics what is happening in Number 10 seems depressingly familiar. Weak and incapacitated leadership from the top is leading to factions vying for power.
It hasn't been stated explicitly in any of the news reports I have seen on this so far but it is difficult not to conclude that the Biden election victory has set this all off. Channel 4 did some proper investigative journalism to show the extent to which former members of the very small Vote Leave team now dominate at the Cabinet Office and Number 10.
This country has already had its reputation sullied by the current government but appointing someone who is best known for dressing up as a chicken as Chief of Staff would clearly have been a step too far. Channel 4 highlighted how the current cabinet has effectively been rendered powerless by the Cummings cliques grip on power so it has been left to the only apparent adult left in the room, Carrie Symonds, to act.
The only possible argument for a no deal Brexit was that it would allow a transformative deal with the US which would partially compensate for the economic damage done. Biden may have called Johnson before other European leaders but it wasn't a sign of favour but to issue a warning about the Internal Market Bill and the Good Friday Agreement. Johnson has been told that if he continues on this path he will be very much on his on and it will be no deal with the US as well as with Europe which would be an economic disaster several levels up from what would have happened if we left without a deal under Trump.
Today it looks alarmingly like a hostage situation is developing in Downing Street with Cummings and David Frost threatening to resign if Johnson doesn't stick to their programme. He may be tempted to give into their demands because a u-turn now would mean he would have to go back on all the pledges he made after being elected.
However, there is some cause for optimism because it is hard to thing of a pledge that Johnson hasn't gone back on and there are signs that even a cabinet handpicked for their loyalty to Brexit are increasingly realising the current path is the one to national ruination. That said, if Cummings isn't out by the end of today I think it will be a very bad sign.
Gordon Southwell ● 1628d2 Comments