If it’s a political truism {that a} cupboard is all smiles when the ruling occasion is nicely forward within the polls, it’s equally the case that nothing highlights ministerial ambitions greater than a weak PM.
With Boris Johnson on the ropes over lockdown occasion allegations, all eyes are actually on his cupboard colleagues and different senior Tories.
Most have provided him assist – to this point. However will any break cowl over the weekend, significantly if there are any new revelations?
The Guardian seems to be on the ones to observe.
Rishi Sunak
The chancellor’s endorsement of Johnson was one of many newest, and maybe probably the most equivocal. Having spent Wednesday 200 miles from the Commons on a go to to Devon, Sunak waited till eight hours after Johnson’s apology to tweet that this had been the right factor to do and “I assist his request for endurance whereas Sue Grey carries out her inquiry.”
Since then there was silence, met by irritation amongst some fellow Tory MPs concerning the lukewarm extent of Sunak’s public assist for his boss, and the way it hints at his obvious eagerness to take over.
Liz Truss
As one other perceived frontrunner to exchange Johnson, the overseas secretary’s lengthy delay in tweeting support for the PM – it took till 9.15pm on Wednesday, an hour after even Sunak – was seen as vital.
Not like the chancellor, Truss has been noticed since, defending Johnson in a BBC interview. Even right here, nonetheless, the message was not totally easy. Whereas speaking up the PM’s wider document, arguing “I believe we now want to maneuver on”, a grave-faced Truss stated of the lockdown events: “We’re very clear that there have been actual errors made.”
Michael Gove
The levelling up secretary was given the unenviable job of defending Johnson publicly on the 1922 assembly of Tory backbenchers on Wednesday.
He did so robustly, saying Johnson had made the suitable calls on Covid and laying into Scottish Conservative chief Douglas Ross, who has known as for the prime minister to resign.
However Gove is prone to have been pissed off {that a} essential announcement on harmful cladding remediation was overshadowed by the persevering with rows over events.
And Gove has type for altering his thoughts.
Johnson allies have by no means fairly trusted him since he scuppered the prime minister’s first management bid in 2016.
Jeremy Hunt
The previous overseas secretary has been rebuilding his repute from the backbenches as chair of the well being and social care choose committee. He has tried and failed in a pitch for the management as soon as earlier than, and can be a rank outsider this time too. However some commentators have recommended he may nonetheless have an opportunity – and his quiet method would definitely be an antidote to the mayhem of Johnson’s chaotic time in Downing Avenue. Hunt has admitted his ambitions have “waned a bit”, however which may not cease him from sticking the boot in to the person who beat him in 2019.
Theresa Could
Few critics of Johnson have been as forensic as the previous prime minister, who was tortured throughout her personal time in No 10 by Johnson. She has described him as “ill-judged and incorrect” over his dealing with of the Owen Paterson sleaze allegations and decried him for threatening to interrupt worldwide legislation throughout Brexit commerce negotiations. Johnson, she stated, had deserted “international ethical management.”
Is that this the second to actual a last revenge?