The noise and shouts in the Conservative Party died down. But the future captains and kings did not leave. Boris Johnson won a vote of confidence on Monday, but could not ignore the depth of the opposition.
Speculation about how long the prime minister can last is meaningless. The course of future events is yet to be shaped. Mr Johnson was given the right to give the government a fresh start. He deserves this opportunity, looking at what he has done for the country since he became prime minister.
But he must continue. The investigation by the Privileges Committee is still ongoing – some difficult conclusions can easily be drawn and it will face real problems if MPs, the party and our voters cannot see a new positive agenda that would justify sticking to it. to him as Prime Minister.
“Continuing the work,” as he told this week’s cabinet, “will not be enough if the new job is the same as the old one.” If so, the new boss will not be the same as the old boss.
The hardest thing in the world is to change the foundations of your own instincts and behavior, especially under pressure. I understand why many people say that the Prime Minister will not be able to do that. But I know that he is a remarkable man and very different from other politicians. We must not accept that change is impossible until it is proven.
Every prime minister has weaknesses and blind spots. The question is whether they are able to compensate by having the right people, accepting good advice and setting a clear political direction with broad support. Mr. Johnson probably has time from now until the party conference to show that he can do that.
The main concern I hear from party members and potential Tory voters is not about the party. For better or worse, people have decided on this. That is, they do not understand what the government is trying to do and why. Even worse, as far as they understand it, they don’t particularly like it. They understand that the government is facing very difficult problems. They are ready to reduce it a bit. But they want to know how he will try to solve them, and they want to do it in a conservative way, not in an expensive collectivist way.
At the moment, the government risks looking overwhelmed by crises. Like the cockpit of a crashing plane, the dashboard lights flash red. The government must decide which problems need to be solved now and which can be left for later. This means a plan: a strategy.
I hope the Prime Minister will do three things now.
First, urgently stop the plane from hitting the ground. Reverse tax increases and credibly commit to future cuts. Start fracking, be clear that North Sea gas is essential for the future and deduct VAT from energy bills. Announce a bill on Brexit opportunities that repeals large pieces of EU law. Immediately remove most tariffs in the UK and eliminate the rest for three years. And complete the online harm bill: bring out only the consistent elements and don’t kill freedom of speech and our technology industry with the rest.
Second, make the airplane fit again and establish a strategy for productivity and growth, a 10-year conservative plan to restore the viability of the British state based on freedom and individual freedom, not collectivism: less government, a freer market housing, an energy strategy that reduces carbon emissions but prioritizes security of supply, reformed education, modernized NHS, benefits paid only to those who need them, rewards for those who save, including pensions, reformed civil service and a stronger union.
All this obviously cannot be done on the hoof. A serious strategy, with proper preparation, is needed to implement it. It will take some time. We must strive for a positive proposal in the next manifesto, aimed at those who see that the country is facing serious problems and want a serious plan to address them.
Finally, stop the quarrel of the crew. The new team No. 10 has improved things, but it is still not working well. Mr Johnson needs to focus on what he is good at – selling and explaining, as chairman of the board – and getting a serious deputy, whether he is chief of staff or deputy prime minister, who can design and execute strategy. The ministerial team needs to be refreshed, but once this has been done, ministers must be allowed to continue their work, as part of the overall strategy, and to stand or fall from the results – from the achievements, not from whether they are performed well in the program This morning.
This is ambitious. I understand why many people think that the Prime Minister cannot fulfill this. He doesn’t like to upset people. But any serious plan means a choice. Many of us still want him to succeed and will support him if he shows a sense of purpose.
But he has to show that things will be different now. If he does not want this conservative government and its own leadership to be one with Nineveh and Tire, he must move fast.
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