On January 31, in the midst of the “partygate” turmoil, Boris Johnson pledged to change the way Downing Street operates to save his term as prime minister. In recent days, the appointments have therefore succeeded in his cabinet and the leader even announced a cabinet reshuffle, Tuesday, February 8, in the hope of calming the anger of the general public and elected Conservatives, ulcerated that parties have been organized in Downing Street in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and breaking with health rules – twelve of them are the subject of a police investigation, including one which took place in his official apartment.
In terms of change, Boris Johnson was mostly content to recall former collaborators or promote loyal ones – especially men, hardened Brexiters. And almost every appointment sparked a new controversy, further weakening his position. On Tuesday, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Minister for Relations with Parliament, inherited the ministry for “Brexit opportunities”. This politician, cultivating his character as a traditionalist aristocrat, is known for his euroscepticism and his many blunders.
In 2018, he estimated, on the Channel 4 channel, that it would be necessary “maybe fifty years to reap the benefits of Brexit”. At the end of 2021, he was on the move to try to save a friend, Tory MP Owen Paterson, who was suspended by Parliament for using his elected position to charge for lobbying services. It is moreover this difficult to justify rescue attempt that marked the beginning of the disenchantment between Boris Johnson and some of the Tory elected officials.
“I Will Survive”
On Tuesday, the post of Minister for Relations with Parliament was given to Mark Spencer, another “Johnsonian”, previously chief whip of the Conservatives, that is to say responsible for voting discipline in the House of Commons. The promotion of Mr. Spencer was immediately denounced, the elected being the subject of a report to the police for remarks he would have made to a colleague, MP Nusrat Ghani. The latter claims that he would have announced his ouster from the Johnson government at the end of 2020, on the grounds that she was “Muslim”. This appointment is “completely inappropriate” denounced Labor MP Thangam Debbonaire in the Guardian.
A day earlier, Mr Johnson had confirmed the arrival in Downing Street of two other loyalists, a new chief of staff – MP Steve Barclay – and a new director of strategy – Andrew Griffith, also a Commons member. “Looks like Downing Street is struggling to recruit; this is undoubtedly the reason why elected officials are appointed to positions usually reserved for senior civil servants”, notes Nick Timothy, former chief of staff at Downing Street under Theresa May, in an interview with a group of European media, including The world.
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