After nearly losing control of his parliamentary party over the Partygate scandal, Boris Johnson set up an operation in Westminster to severely reduce the damage, which took effect when it was revealed he had broken the blockade law. Here’s how it works:
Uber-loyal cabinet ministers
Every cabinet needs work for a media attack, and that role fell to Transport Secretary Grant Shaps, who made the broadcast the morning after the prime minister’s fine was revealed. Shaps was willing to allow his disagreements with the prime minister to become known in the past – including over land winds and the blockade of Covid-19 – but he remains the best media performer in the cabinet when Johnson is in trouble.
Johnson has other key loyalists who will go to war without undue pressure, including Culture Minister Nadine Doris, whom lawmakers describe as “aggressive” towards internal WhatsApp groups, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, whose dismissal of Partygate as a no-problem sometimes he may have even gone further than No. 10’s own spinners.
Promotional wishes
Johnson has many frustrated former ministers who are among his strongest critics, both publicly and privately, but there is a key group of those who either hope to advance from junior roles or hope to be brought back from the desert who are demonstratively loyal to the most inconvenient opportunity.
Among the most famous is former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who was forced to resign over an awkward blockade, but who remained steadfastly loyal from the back seat, including defending the prime minister’s violations, which may have been more serious than the kiss. it cost him his own career. Robert Jenrick, the renamed former secretary of the community, also defended Johnson on the air.
Whips with a new look
After clearing the whips’ office in a bid to restore discipline, new boss Chris Heaton-Harris and his deputy, Chris Pinscher, have reportedly taken the “good cop, bad cop” approach to stop MPs who revolt and vote in public. your government in the media.
The couple hosted a team dinner last month for all Conservative MPs to reunite and restore some of the bonds of friendship that were severely severed during Johnson’s lowest point in mid-January.
Although they both avoid making any public appearances, they play an important role behind the scenes: reassuring lawmakers who are skeptical of key government decisions and, if necessary, hanging the prospect of promotion to encourage them to continue to support.
If Johnson’s long-term survival is to be guaranteed, he will have to rely on the support of the Whip Service to address early concerns when they believe the party has widespread discontent on a particular issue, for example, to avoid a repeat of the the Owen Patterson affair.
The performers on the back bench
Working quieter around the edges of rear benches, Johnson can count on a number of key allies to be his eyes and ears in places where the whip office does not extend naturally.
Among them are his parliamentary private secretaries – former Minister James Dudridge, who was one of the first Tory MPs to submit a no-confidence motion against Theresa May, and two of the 2019 candidates, Joy Morrissey and Leah Nichi.
Johnson’s longtime friend Connor Burns, Northern Ireland’s minister, and Nigel Adams, a minister without a portfolio but visiting the cabinet, are also still working to ensure his safety – after both were heavily involved in the “shadow whipping operation”. “To get MPs to withdraw letters of no confidence in the midst of the Partygate scandal.
The true “red walls”
Many new Tory MPs – especially those in the Red Wall, previously only Labor – believe they owe much of Johnson’s personal debt to help secure their election to parliament.
As such, they are admirable in their praise of him and want to dismiss many of the criticisms of the prime minister as minor issues that do not concern the general public – including police fines for Downing Street parties.
Among Johnson’s most ardent supporters of the Red Wall is Mark Jenkinson, a Warkington MP who dismissed criticism of Johnson attending a birthday party as a “leftist” who wants to topple a democratically elected government over a birthday cake. announced at that time. “
Another red rocker, former teacher Brendan Clark-Smith, has accused Labor of “incredible hypocrisy” over past cases of opposition lawmakers being fined for speeding or using a telephone while driving.
And Catherine Fletcher recently tried to stand up for Johnson in the municipality recently, saying voters told her, “He’s a kid, but 100,000 Russians have just shown up. What the hell are we talking about cake?
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