Can Boris survive? PM clings on with sleaze watchdog 'on brink of quitting' over No10 flat 'lies', spin chief accused of giving out prizes at 'illegal' Xmas party, Tory revolt over Covid curbs and polls in freefall
Boris Johnson is fighting on a bewildering range of fronts after the row over the No11 caught fire again, with an Electoral Commission probe revealing that he personally messaged a Tory donor to ask for works to be underwritten. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson's director of communications, Jack Doyle, has been dragged into the separate 'partygate' furore, with claims he gave a speech and handed out prizes at a lockdown-busting festive gathering in Downing Street last year. Tories are also in open revolt about new coronavirus restrictions to combat the surging Omicron strain, while long-running sleaze accusations appear to be hitting the party in the polls ahead of a crucial by-election in North Shropshire next week. Despite his huge 80-strong majority won just two years ago, Mr Johnson - who must contend with sleepless nights after becoming a father again yesterday - is now facing serious speculation about his future.
Could the Tories really do the unthinkable and ditch Boris? Mutinous MPs, jitters at HQ, and fears of an even worse week to come... No wonder Commons tearooms are abuzz with the question of the PM's future, writes JASON GROVES
JASON GROVES: Tory MPs report a growing tide of angry emails and phone calls from party members and constituents about the lack of grip in No 10, and the toxic claim that those at the heart of government believe the rules do not apply to them. Some Tory MPs are also starting to wonder whether they might be better off without their talismanic leader, whose election-winning qualities are offset by a chaotic approach to life and government. What started as a rumble of discontent over the handling of the Owen Paterson sleaze allegations last month, is fast becoming a roar. Paul Goodman, editor of the Conservative Home website, which is broadly supportive of the PM, yesterday said a vote of no confidence in him had 'suddenly become more likely than not'. Mr Johnson's old employer, The Daily Telegraph, asked on its front page: 'Is this the beginning of the end for Boris?'
Double poll blow for Boris Johnson as two thirds of voters question his integrity over Christmas party - while Labour surge to four-point lead over Tories
The Tories have slumped to their worst rating in 11 months after a poll by The Times and YouGov put the party on just 33 per cent, down three points.
'Parties? No, they were gatherings,' oozed the PM's Clutcher-at-Straws: HENRY DEEDES watches the Paymaster General explaining the Christmas party scandal to Parliament
HENRY DEEDES: One of the upshots of the Downing Street party debacle is that it has left the Prime Minister somewhat short on friends.
Downing Street Christmas party 'had been planned for WEEKS': Invitations were circulated in November - while official probe will focus on THREE No10 bashes
Officials in Number 10 had been planning their lockdown-busting Christmas party up to three weeks before the event took place, it was claimed last night.
Downing Street's most-senior spin doctor 'gave out awards and thanked staff at controversial No10 Christmas party' - then helped brief journalists that nothing untoward took place
Jack Doyle, then the PM's Deputy Director of Communications, is said to have made a 'thank you' speech to up to 50 people who attended the bash on December 18 last year.
If you lot worked as hard as our honourable members do then you'd all need a good old fashioned Xmas party too! Right?
MPs work tirelessly and relentlessly on our behalf, day in, day out, and in all weathers, have you forgotten that? I think they deserve a party once a year don't you? We all make mistakes so why can't we just forgive and forget, and move on?
My grandfather and father voted Conservative and I'll do the same! I'm a proud blue-blooded Conservative through and through! The Conservatives stand for lower taxes! More policing! And more fox hunting! Who doesn't want more fox hunting?
Nothing has changed! I can't wait for the next GE.... [Insert name of dogmatic Tory voter here]
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Liz Truss. LIZ TRUSS?
You gotta be kidding me. We are sinking to unimaginable depths if she gets the gig. I've never known a less able politician who has held so many top positions.
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Liz Truss. LIZ TRUSS?
You gotta be kidding me. We are sinking to unimaginable depths if she gets the gig. I've never known a less able politician who has held so many top positions.
Tell me about it. Rather have a snake oil salesman over her any day.
The Conservative Party tends to vote in whoever the 2 wings don't hate. Think John Major-less liked than Thatcher or Hurd, but (more importantly) less disliked.
I fear the Right Wing won't want Sunak/Hunt/Raab. And the Left won't want Gove/Javid/Patel.
Hope I'm wrong-but the bookies seem to be thinking that way.
May well be. Would be if it was the choice of the electorate. But it is not.
There are whispers that he has been plotting against Johnson. Something that was never really proved in Hurd/Thatcher. And was enough to stop Hurd being elected. People didn't vote "for" Major. They voted against Thatcher/Hurd.
Those whispers are going to get louder unless he can strike some deals within the Party pretty quickly.
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Guess which one's odds are shortening? Liz Truss.
I just looked at the odds on oddschecker.com. The betting on Liz Truss is weird. Bet365 have her at 12/1, while William Hill go 5/2. All of them have Rishi Sunak as quite a short priced favourite.
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Guess which one's odds are shortening? Liz Truss.
I just looked at the odds on oddschecker.com. The betting on Liz Truss is weird. Bet365 have her at 12/1, while William Hill go 5/2. All of them have Rishi Sunak as quite a short priced favourite.
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Guess which one's odds are shortening? Liz Truss.
I just looked at the odds on oddschecker.com. The betting on Liz Truss is weird. Bet365 have her at 12/1, while William Hill go 5/2. All of them have Rishi Sunak as quite a short priced favourite.
Sunak is not that short-priced. Generally available at 9/4-add in Bookies margin, and they think he has about a 25% chance. The favourite. But hardly a shoo-in
Key will be in the next week. How quickly will Johnson go, how bold will Sunak be, and can he get both someone from the Left AND someone from the Right to back him? Meanwhile, people will be anonymously plotting against him.
Comments
Boris Johnson is fighting on a bewildering range of fronts after the row over the No11 caught fire again, with an Electoral Commission probe revealing that he personally messaged a Tory donor to ask for works to be underwritten. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson's director of communications, Jack Doyle, has been dragged into the separate 'partygate' furore, with claims he gave a speech and handed out prizes at a lockdown-busting festive gathering in Downing Street last year. Tories are also in open revolt about new coronavirus restrictions to combat the surging Omicron strain, while long-running sleaze accusations appear to be hitting the party in the polls ahead of a crucial by-election in North Shropshire next week. Despite his huge 80-strong majority won just two years ago, Mr Johnson - who must contend with sleepless nights after becoming a father again yesterday - is now facing serious speculation about his future.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10295745/PM-clinging-amid-bitter-rows-No10-party-flat-refurb.html
JASON GROVES: Tory MPs report a growing tide of angry emails and phone calls from party members and constituents about the lack of grip in No 10, and the toxic claim that those at the heart of government believe the rules do not apply to them. Some Tory MPs are also starting to wonder whether they might be better off without their talismanic leader, whose election-winning qualities are offset by a chaotic approach to life and government. What started as a rumble of discontent over the handling of the Owen Paterson sleaze allegations last month, is fast becoming a roar. Paul Goodman, editor of the Conservative Home website, which is broadly supportive of the PM, yesterday said a vote of no confidence in him had 'suddenly become more likely than not'. Mr Johnson's old employer, The Daily Telegraph, asked on its front page: 'Is this the beginning of the end for Boris?'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10294261/JASON-GROVES-Commons-tearooms-abuzz-question-Boris-Johnsons-future.html
The Tories have slumped to their worst rating in 11 months after a poll by The Times and YouGov put the party on just 33 per cent, down three points.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10293689/Labour-surges-SIX-POINT-poll-lead-Boris-Johnsons-Tories-amid-party-Covid-rows.html
'Parties? No, they were gatherings,' oozed the PM's Clutcher-at-Straws: HENRY DEEDES watches the Paymaster General explaining the Christmas party scandal to Parliament
HENRY DEEDES: One of the upshots of the Downing Street party debacle is that it has left the Prime Minister somewhat short on friends.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10294393/HENRY-DEEDES-watches-Paymaster-General-explaining-Christmas-party-scandal-Parliament.html
Downing Street Christmas party 'had been planned for WEEKS': Invitations were circulated in November - while official probe will focus on THREE No10 bashes
Officials in Number 10 had been planning their lockdown-busting Christmas party up to three weeks before the event took place, it was claimed last night.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10294987/Downing-Street-Christmas-party-planned-WEEKS.html
Downing Street's most-senior spin doctor 'gave out awards and thanked staff at controversial No10 Christmas party' - then helped brief journalists that nothing untoward took place
Jack Doyle, then the PM's Deputy Director of Communications, is said to have made a 'thank you' speech to up to 50 people who attended the bash on December 18 last year.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10294209/No10s-senior-spin-doctor-gave-awards-controversial-Christmas-party.html
"Unthinkable"? Like May and Cameron in the last 5 years? The Conservative Party seems able to think in this way rather a lot...
The bookies have 7 candidates to replace him. In order, they are:-
1. Rishi Sunak
2. Liz Truss
3. Hunt/Gove
5. Javid/Priti Patel/Raab
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Guess which one's odds are shortening? Liz Truss.
Liz Truss. LIZ TRUSS?
You gotta be kidding me. We are sinking to unimaginable depths if she gets the gig. I've never known a less able politician who has held so many top positions.
The Conservative Party tends to vote in whoever the 2 wings don't hate. Think John Major-less liked than Thatcher or Hurd, but (more importantly) less disliked.
I fear the Right Wing won't want Sunak/Hunt/Raab.
And the Left won't want Gove/Javid/Patel.
Hope I'm wrong-but the bookies seem to be thinking that way.
There are whispers that he has been plotting against Johnson. Something that was never really proved in Hurd/Thatcher. And was enough to stop Hurd being elected. People didn't vote "for" Major. They voted against Thatcher/Hurd.
Those whispers are going to get louder unless he can strike some deals within the Party pretty quickly.
Interesting times.
The betting on Liz Truss is weird.
Bet365 have her at 12/1, while William Hill go 5/2.
All of them have Rishi Sunak as quite a short priced favourite.
https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-conservative-leader
Not saying she will win. Am saying 12/1 is great odds.
Key will be in the next week. How quickly will Johnson go, how bold will Sunak be, and can he get both someone from the Left AND someone from the Right to back him? Meanwhile, people will be anonymously plotting against him.
He will. And we won't see the onion in the background.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10248041/Liz-Truss-aide-axed-unsubtle-bid-Prime-Minister-angered-No10.html
Thats shorter than Geoffrey Cox.