Boris Johnson’s march on Downing Street is unstoppable – rival candidates are already pitching for jobs in his cabinet

Johnson has been strategically tight-lipped about his plans if he wins power, including how he’s going to handle the Brexit debacle

Andrew Grice
Sunday 16 June 2019 23:18 BST
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The striking thing about this contest so far is the paucity of policy
The striking thing about this contest so far is the paucity of policy

Even Boris Johnson’s rivals for the Conservative crown seem to be planning for the aftermath of his coronation. There will still be a contest; a plot by Tory whips for Johnson’s opponents to stand aside so he can be rubber-stamped by party members in a confirmatory ballot has rightly been dumped. Too painful a reminder of Theresa May’s unopposed accession in 2016.

Yet the Tories are in danger of repeating the mistake. Johnson is in such a commanding position that Tory MPs either row in behind him or risk only coded criticism in the hope that will not bar them from a ministerial job. The honourable exception is the impressive Rory Stewart, who told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday he would not serve in a Johnson cabinet, as he pledged to “speak uncomfortable truths” about “who do you trust to be prime minister”.

Other contenders seem to be treating Johnson with kid gloves. Michael Gove, who told us three years ago that Johnson “cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead”, now wants to bury the hatchet with him rather than in him. Gove told The Sunday Times he “would absolutely work with Johnson in any way that he wanted to work with me”, hinting he would like the job of housing secretary if he fails to land the top one.

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