Adam Boulton Sarah Baxter

20 The Sunday Times January 28, 2018 COMMENT Adam Boulton Boris rides high but Gove ESTABLISHED 1822 is this race’s dark horse Why we need to hold our politicians to account In a Tory leadership dash, the foreign secretary may be pipped at the post here are moments in history Liam Fox well and that he could guide the hey are not yet under starter’s orders secretary’s thoughts will see the light of day as they say to themselves, then surely a switch that call for leadership, integrity company’s representatives and make but the would-be runners in a did his 4,000-word red-line article last year. mid-EU negotiations without triggering an Conservative leadership contest have Johnson is now only second favourite with election would be a trivial matter. and determination. Unfortu- introductions to the “right person”. He left the paddock and are warming up. the bookies to be next Tory leader, narrowly Johnson has long modelled himself in nately, Brexit is not proving our also suggested that payment for his servi- The contest looks imminent because, behind that other Old Etonian Jacob Churchillian mould. He may have more in politicians’ finest hour. While ces could be made through his wife’s com- in the words of one habitual loyalist, Rees-Mogg, who is making the best of his common with two other Tory mavericks and ministers spar over the Conserv- pany in a move to keep it off the “we can see she simply can’t do it”. recent elevation to head the Eurosceptic wrecking balls — Powell and Heseltine. Like ative leadership succession and parliamentary register. This month Theresa May topped the backbench European Research Group (ERG). Powell, Johnson parades his classical speculation about Theresa Mr Lilley, a former trade and industry Tdisappointments of 2017 with a botched He has a taste for the media and is flaying the education. Both men controversially tested the cabinet reshuffle, a humiliatingly insignificant prime minister, David Davis and Philip boundaries of acceptable English by deploying TMay’s future reaches fever pitch, the secretary, revealed that he belonged to a appearance at Davos and by falling out with Hammond for being insufficiently “vigorous” the word “piccaninnies”. But where Powell cabinet has had only one perfunctory dis- private group advising Dr Fox. Mr Mitch- both her chancellor and her foreign secretary, in securing Brexit “heart, soul and mind”. presented himself “like the Roman” as a man of cussion about Britain’s plans to leave the ell, the MP for Sutton Coldfield, said he the standard-bearers at either ends of Brexit. For the first time ERG MPs are planning unflinching logic and principle, Johnson has European Union since the referendum. was already advising clients on Brexit but When Boris Johnson makes the headlines, it rebel amendments to stiffen the spine of Brexit built a career out of apologies, U-turns and Nature abhors a vacuum but it is a nice appeared interested in further work at a is bad news for the prime minister. If he finds legislation over the transition period and the overstatement. little earner for politicians. Our Insight daily rate of £6,000. He claimed: “My con- the courage to resign from the cabinet on the final deal. As Sir John Major learnt with the Heseltine is proud of being the first Tory MP right issue, or if May sacks him, the resulting “whipless wonders”, a government is most to condemn Powell’s “rivers of blood” speech team, sparked by reports that Brexit had stituents don’t mind what I’m paid.” turmoil would almost certainly take her down vulnerable when its opponents on opposite in 1968. Like Powell he has clung to his political led to a lobbying frenzy, has spent months with him. Which is not to say that Johnson will sides of an argument unite to vote against it. beliefs and put them ahead of loyalty to his unravelling the web of access, intelligence n 2015 the former Conservative MP necessarily replace her. A meaningful defeat in the Commons could party. His fellow tousled blond and former MP and influence enabling senior politicians Tim Yeo sued The Sunday Times over a Political assassins play a prominent part in finish off the May government in the autumn. for Henley has no such record of adamantine to exploit their connections for personal previous Insight exposé. Not only did Conservative Party history. Johnson lacks the The prime minister could fall before then if 15% consistency. authority of Sir Geoffrey Howe, whose of the parliamentary party — 48 Tory MPs — Ambiguity could turn out to be Johnson’s gain. Former cabinet ministers appear to he lose his libel action but the High resignation delivered the coup de grâce to write to the chairman of the 1922 committee greatest asset in any leadership contest. The have fallen short of the standards ICourt judge also made important Margaret Thatcher. But he can match the asking for a vote of confidence in her. In a loud majority of Tory party members are reflected in the Nolan principles govern- observations about investigative journal- charisma of Michael Heseltine, the Iron Lady’s stage whisper Sir Graham Brady has bemoaned Eurosceptic. They rejected Ken Clarke many ing conduct in public life. ism that are relevant today. Mr Justice other resolute nemesis. Meanwhile, Johnson’s the growing pile of letters on his desk. times and in the present charged atmosphere Some readers will already be aware Warby noted that stories of this kind are detractors hope he’ll be another Enoch Powell Word is there are more than 40 letters on file are most unlikely to back Jeremy Hunt, Amber that we were preparing to publish these “peculiarly vulnerable to having [their] and propel himself into the wilderness. from a coalition opposed to the leader. Rudd or Gavin Williamson, for all their Johnson has been busy of late, using the Pro-Europeans have long blamed her for not ambition. The rump of pro-European revelations last Sunday. There has been impact undermined by spoiling tactics. tools of a professional journalist to restore his trying to accommodate their views. Now those Conservatives will oppose zealots such as speculation about the causes of delay The subject of the story has a strong incen- faded credentials as a contender for the top on the other side fear being let down. I asked Rees-Mogg just as fervently. ranging from legal concerns on our part to tive to engage in tactics of that kind and so job. First, he stole the reflected glory of one low-profile MP: “Would another leader But Boris? His “rascally precariousness”, as the threat of intervention by the regulator do competitors. The risks are exacerbated Emmanuel Macron’s presidential visit with the better serve your views on Brexit?” He replied: the author Howard Jacobson put it, permits Ofcom against our broadcasting partner, if the story is objectively sensational and idea of a cross-Channel road bridge. “As a member of ERG, yes.” Recent sackings onlookers to see in him what they want to find. Next, he inserted himself into the NHS’s and the reshuffle’s pointless moves have “He’s still there and he always is,” one Channel 4’s Dispatches programme. the subject is someone, such as an experi- worst winter with the well-publicised claim embittered many, especially the pale and stale longstanding colleague pointed out. But then None of this is true. The simple fact, enced MP, well versed in the mechanisms that Brexit should mean £5bn a year extra for males who know their faces will never fit. this old friend added: “If he really wants it.” which the public has a right to know, is for managing or influencing the news. If the health service. For disloyalty, May Tory MPs do not believe May can possibly Johnson self-destructed in 2016 when he had that we withheld publication of our inves- the impact of such a story is dissipated the sentenced Johnson to a punishment beating lead them into the next election. The more the best chance of becoming prime minister. tigation on compassionate grounds as we public interest is harmed. It attracts less from cabinet colleagues but despite his bruises compassionate of them claim she is visibly Even some of his family wonder if he’d do the were preparing to go to press. At the dis- attention and there is some waste of the he emerged triumphant. The public agrees wilting, weary of a job she cannot relish. If the same again deliberately. with him on more money for the NHS and he country could change the prime minister to Despite Michael Gove’s betrayal in the last ruptive time of 4.30pm last Saturday a resources of the media organisation that enhanced the credibility of his dubious battle Winston Churchill at the darkest hour in 1940, contest, Johnson and “the Gover” are back in public relations spokesman for Lord has created it. That represents a disincen- bus claim that there will be a Brexit dividend. harness as close allies. Gove is trying to rebuild Lansley delivered a “confidential” letter tive to investigative journalism.” Now he is preparing to deliver a key speech his reputation as an enthusiastic and effective from his cancer specialist about his The politicians in our Cash for Brexit on Britain’s foreign policy centred on the environment secretary. He has brains and medical treatment. It included details investigation attempted to scupper our optimistic and “liberal” case for Brexit. Many subtlety but he is a true believer in the kind of on both sides of the argument are thirsting to Brexit which the hardliners fear is slipping of his condition that we will not be reveal- reporting using remedies not available to hear this message, whether it’s true or not.

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