“The Day After” – and what change we witnessed! Ms May finally went and Boris Johnson is now the new PM, wielding that famous new broom to great effect.
First we had to sit through one of the longest and most tedious PMQs ever. The mixture of subservient thanks by MPs for her service and support for their pet causes on the one hand and vituperation for not doing everything the opposition wanted on the other was dreary. Interestingly enough, none of the Grieve cabal spoke nor did any of the ERG except Jacob Rees-Mogg.
There were no parliamentary shenanigans, such as trying to get in some sort of no confidence vote, although Jeremy Corbyn made a significant Freudian slip at the beginning of his performance when he said ‘the members on the opposition benches’, meaning the Tories. Ah! Hoping for a GE with a Labour win then, wasn’t he?
When Ms May finally left the Chamber, MPs stood to clap her out – except the Labour front bench who sat on their hands. Ah well, ideology before manners …
On to the ensuing spectacle of Ms May leaving 10 Downing Street, going to the Queen, then Johnson going to the Queen and coming to 10 Downing Street: the BBC and SKY outdid themselves in negativity, having only Remain ‘talking heads’ commenting while we waited.
Two Party Leaders, Ms Swinson of the LibDems and Ms Lucas of the Greens, deserve mentioning for their exquisite understanding of democracy. Both want a 2nd referendum, but when asked if they’d accept the result were leave to win again, they said no, they wouldn’t. You can read about it here. Words fail me …
Onto Johnson’s speech as new PM. If you missed it – you can watch the whole thing here. It was a fine speech indeed, especially since the TV talking heads tried hard but failed to be polite to the new PM, preferring to be critical of all the hard points Johnson made.
Of course and inevitably, RemainCentral had this to say, a quip by the Taoiseach included:
“EU officials and diplomats reacted with dismay. “What can one say about the speech?” a senior official said. “His appointments in Downing Street are more worrying.” Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, warned Mr Johnson that “enthusiasm is not a substitute for a European policy”. (link, paywalled)
If the EU didn’t like the speech – good! I’m all for that. We also got to hear all the usual Remain complaints about Johnson not being serious, about him being unorganised, about the Remain Parliament not going to let him get away with it, all accompanied by the unfiltered background noises made by the Remain demonstrators in Whitehall.
Why they – Remain demonstrators as well as Remain commentators – think it was clever to keep showing that EU flag wafting at the entry to Downing Street, that I cannot explain …
And finally – the long awaited proof of Johnson doing what he said he would. He wasn’t cautious and ‘conciliatory’ towards his Remain colleagues and the Remain HoC, oh no. It was a thing of beauty to watch unfold!
Social media were full of tweets about how brutal this was: 17 ministers gone, sacked in a ‘night of long knives’. Here’s a tweet by Robert Peston standing for many others. Oborne’s ‘take’ on the ‘brutality’ is here.
As usual, the MSM, mindlessly copying from each other, accepted without thought that Johnson’s offer to Hunt to take on the Ministry of Defense was a ‘demotion’ and therefore humiliating.
No it wasn’t – especially not after Hunt’s hapless performance in the Iran crisis. Here’s RemainCentral:
“The biggest casualty was Jeremy Hunt, who was forced to quit as foreign secretary after refusing to accept the role of defence secretary because he considered it to be a demotion. That refusal is said to have infuriated Mr Johnson, with allies saying that Mr Hunt had “demeaned” both himself and the role of defence secretary. A better offer from Mr Johnson was not forthcoming.” (link, paywalled).
If The Times wants to paint this as Boris being mean and bent on a vendetta, that is their ‘privilege’, although why they’re astonished that the Brexit PM fills his cabinet with Brexiteers is a bit … odd.
For a non-paywalled list of who is ‘in’, with a report of how events unfolded, go here. Now let’s look at some of the snide remarks by Remainers. First up is Matthew Parris, Arch Remainer in RemainCentral:
“Savagery in politics is sometimes necessary. But savagery must have a purpose. Savagery in the construction of a cabinet may be used to give a clear, even brutal, shape to a new prime minister’s plans. But yesterday was just carnage. I know what the retention of Jeremy Hunt as foreign secretary would have said about our future foreign policy: cautious and steady. But what does the name Dominic Raab say? Hard Brexit and little more. What does the name Priti Patel say about direction for the Home Office? Hard Brexit and little more.” (link, paywalled)
Savour this: Hunt had to go but should have been retained, according to Parris. Even more amazing: Johnson appointed Brexiteers so he can fulfil his promise to have us ‘Out’ on the 31st of October. Unprecedented, innit! More Parris:
“Looking at the names added and deleted from the cabinet yesterday brought an image to my mind. Not of a prime minister carefully consulting colleagues and whips as he shapes an administration whose composition tells us what kind of Britain he wants: an administration that will pull together and feel like a team; avoiding needlessly wounding or enraging too many other colleagues. Instead, I see a boy alone in a room with crayons and a blank sheet of paper, putting horns on the faces of those he does not like, or who have hurt him, and smiles on the faces of his chums.” (link, paywalled)
Oh dear. What did he, what did the Remainers expect? A continuation of ‘steady on Remain’ policies so as not to ‘hurt feelings’? Better ask what this diatribe tells us about Parris! Another writer bemoans the fact that Johnson’s cabinet isn’t sufficiently ‘diverse’:
“Although Team Johnson had initially pitched the new top table as the most ‘diverse’ in history, in fact it turned out to be Brexiteer heavy and reaminer [sic!] light, with leavers appointed to four of the five most powerful jobs.” (paywalled link)
Interesting, isn’t it, how suddenly ‘diverse’ isn’t about skin colour any longer – difficult to maintain with Sajid Javid as Chancellor and Priti Patel at the Home Office – but about political attitudes. Praise for Johnson’s cabinet comes from Andrew Lilico in the DT:
“No-one should have any doubt where he is going. It is to No Deal. Only the EU can divert him, by offering a deal he could accept — though it will not do so. […] For the problem is not Boris. It never was. Neither is it Javid or Patel or Raab or the rest of his, truly excellent core team — perhaps the best Tory Cabinet since the mid 1980s. The problem is that only about a third of Tory MPs believe in Brexit at all, and that there are probably at least somewhere between 20 and 50 (maybe many more) that would vote against him in a Confidence motion if that’s what it took to stop No Deal. An election is coming. But when it does, Boris could not have signalled any more clearly where he will stand. His Cabinet cries out for him: “No deal or bust!” (paywalled link)
Many will have wanted to see Leave stalwarts being given a role in this new government – MPs such as Owen Paterson, Mark François, Sir John Redwood and Sir Bill Cash. I think they are better placed on the back benches from which to shoot down, verbally, the Remain opponents.
And now to a most significant appointment, that of Jacob Rees-Mogg. Here is a non-paywalled report, and here’s the DT:
“In possibly the most dramatic appointment of the evening, arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who proved such a thorn in the side of Mrs May, was made Leader of the Commons.” (paywalled link)
Political pundits remarked that Rees-Mogg, who knows more about parliamentary customs and procedures than any other MP, was appointed to keep in check the Arch Remainers and their parliamentary shenanigans to prevent a No Deal. Rees-Mogg is now also best placed to keep the Speaker ‘honest’ and prevent his parliamentary escapades to help Remain.
Together with Gove, who has the brief to supervise all No Deal preparations while keeping an eye on the Civil Service this appointment means that Johnson truly means to have us ‘Out’ on the 31st of October. Can he do it? We’ll have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, the first cabinet meeting is at 8.30am today and the HoC will meet for the last time before going into the summer recess. Will the plotters, will Corbyn have prepared their schemes to get rid of Johnson today? We’ll have to wait and see.
As for me – after the tedium of May’s leaving the fast and furious start of BoJo as PM was exhilarating. And yes, we’ll have to wait and see if this firework will fizzle out quickly when the inevitable ‘Rain of Remain’ sets in – or if this is a sustained effort of ‘Brexiteers United’ to finally do what we want: Leave the EU.
KBO!
Facts for EU org (www.facts4eu.org) say there are still too many remainers in his cabinet.
Ireland joined the EU on the same day as Britain did. Obviously Ireland should leave on the same day Britain leaves. But it seems the Eu made sure this would not happen by turning Ireland into a EU/bankers colony, forever in debt. It is said that the Jews ruled themselves for only 70 years of the 700 years prior to the coming of Christ and we know what happened then. Ireland is doing even worse in repeating Jewish history by ruling itself for only 50 years in the past 800 years.
But Brexit is the biggest European upheaval since the second World War. There can be no turning back. The time is right??? And who knows where it will end.?
I’m still watching parliament live.
If you can, try and watch the maiden performance of Jacob Rees-Mogg as Leader of the House at the dispatch box. It was a joy to behold.
The speech of Johnson, and the ensuing questions are still going on. One thing’s certain: PMQs will never be the same again!
I watched JRM with equal joy. What a delight to see a grown up in charge at long last. And his extensive historical knowledge, his relentless politeness (if I can put it that way) gave him utter superiority over the dolts and the dreary, the deriders and the doomsayers. He pasted the bowling; hitting so many subtle sixes I lost count. Boris was grapeshot to JRM’s pin-point sniper fire that picked off the opposing generals one by one.
A few observations.
Excellent list of removals; not so happy with all the incomers. How on Earth can he retain the Ruddy women and to bring back bird-faced, bird-brained, multiply proven useless and a Remainer, Morgan, God knows?
“ideology before manners” (Bo**ocks to Brexit, anyone) is the new normal I am afraid, egged on, rather than put down, by the media. In fact, ideology before everything including fact, rationality, decency, common sense and good taste.
Paterson, non-believer in the ‘green crap agenda’, would have been ideal back at Defra where he was so effective they had to sack him. He is also almost one of a kind who had some successes dealing with the EU. But green crap is Boris’s Achille’s heel, well one of them.
Would have preferred JRM at Treasury, and with Redwood, but Leader of the House could prove a master stroke. His unfailing good manners and acerbic wit will irritate and diminish the odious little pip-squeak Speaker no end. Happy days.
Shortly after Boris announced as PM-elect, Sky’s Beth Rigby said without blinking that the majority of the country doesn’t want his version of Brexit. She said it with no qualification so it must be fact. And later, helpfully, they interviewed some of the student protesters, and ensured waving EU flags were on show at all times throughout the day.
Ex-Labour apparatchik, now Sky News correspondent, Lewis Goodhall, called Boris’s election a ‘hostile takeover by the Eurosceptics.’ What, Lewis, like some African or South American or middle Eastern dictatorship? There was me thinking it was another instance of our constitution working; just one that the Remainers couldn’t nobble.
To MWT : Polish, Bulgarian, Roma: small time stuff compared to what’s going to hit us if we don’t get a clean break: the UN Global Compact for Migration will kick in (I think this will be after whatever a mockery of Brexit is passed). I predict that the EU will be able to dictate yearly and indefinitely how many 3rd world migrants must be dumped on UK giving them full rights, while depriving us of the right to complain?. 2 articles by Torquil D E explaining how this can be enforced: First https://independencedaily.co.uk/the-dangers-of-mrs-mays-planned-security-treaty-with-the-eu/
Then https://brexitcentral.com/theresa-mays-successor-should-not-allow-the-uk-to-be-entangled-in-eu-legal-defence-and-security-projects/
While at the same time we inherit the liabilities of the coming fiscal European meltdown A recipe for disaster.. Is it any accident that Javid was employed in a high position with Deutsche Bank?
Thank you Mary for flagging up my warnings about EU Security and Justice issues! Sometimes I feel like a lone voice, and wonder if anyone is listening, so your interest is most encouraging.
BoJo sounds quite earnest about getting us out by October 31st, but there is at least one item in what he said which I think deserves some closer scrutiny: when he said he was going to give “full rights” to the 3.5 mn EU citizens living in the UK. Do these rights include a fast track to citizenship and voting rights? If so, then a second referendum would doubtless be tilted in favour of Remain.
Probably the best, in terms of describing Johnson attitude towards immigration and wider towards the law, was his proposal to introduce amnesty for all illegal immigrants in the UK (being here longer than 10 years). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/24/boris-johnson-challenges-theresa-may-introduce-migrant-amnesty/
Do not be mistaken by his friendly and sometimes goofy appearance. He is as globalist lover and as far from ordinary citizen as was the previous PM.
Yes indeed and Boris seems quite up for immigration generally so how hard would he stand up to the UN on this and all their many other sins?
Wouldn’t go down with the middle class voters in the leafy shires or certain areas of London though MWT . 🙂
Gove, Rudd, Morgan, Interesting ‘cabinet’ members, in an overly large cabinet which will be hard to control let alone get any consensus, looks like bureaucracy writ large again. Still we can hope its better and Boris does what he says he going to do, but as grand mother used to say, wish in one hand and spit in the other and see what you get first!
Also “the best” Home Secretary in the long line of “excellent Home Secretaries” given us by Conservatives in last 9 years will become a Chancellor. My question is which achievements from his long list of political positions predict his good performance? Short reminder:
Economic Secretary to the Treasury 2012 – 2013,
Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2013 – 2014,
Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport 2014 – 2015,
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 2015 – 2016,
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 2016 – 2018,
Home Secretary 2018 – 2019.
Or is this simple diversity game and achievements does not matter?
Probably the best set of qualifications for a real “hands on” Chancellor I can think of, he’ll have a good idea of how the Civil Service overseers operate on a corporate basis to enable an United front dictated by their chief who directs the PM to be operated usually on a divide and rule scenario.
I’m sure Remain conspiracy always has had a “Grand Ring Master” and it wouldn’t surprise me to find out it was the head of the Civil Service.
Pity Javed didn’t have time at Defence – now there’s a department where the bones and the bodies need to be exhumed!
Roger, “the best set of qualifications” did not translate so far into delivery. For sure there are few important bits about modern Conservatives since they took over in 2010. One of them is that they are terrible in delivery. I will repeat myself than – can you name a single policy or issue fix achieved by Sajid Javid since he started his public service in 2012?
Well, that’s my morning sorted then: watch telly! From BrexitCentral:
“newly-appointed Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers will be expected in the Commons for DEFRA questions at 9.30am, after which Jacob Rees-Mogg will make his debut at the Despatch Box in the Commons as Leader of the House, announcing business for the September sitting following the summer recess (which begins tonight). The new Prime Minister is then expected to make a statement to MPs and answer questions today – expect Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn’s first Commons clash at around 11.30am.”
JRM’s first appearance at the Dispatch Box – and the first BoJo-Jezza clash? Unmissable! I’ll watch it so you don’t have to …
😉
Thank you Viv.
Happy to give him till Oct 31 but there is only true Brexiteer in the entire cabinet (Priti Patel) and I would not have had Javid as Chancellor (Remain , ex Deutsche Bank, Muslim – don’t trust him) and cRudd still?! Didn’t like the bit of his speech where he promised all 3.5 million EU folk here in the UK indefinite right to remain so we will be stuck with Roma Big Issue sellers, Bulgarian car washers, Polish rough sleepers, criminal gangs and so on. If they are not contributing they should be deported.
If Boris delivers on the 31st October there will have been much horsetrading behind the scenes. Boris will have taken his Danegeld as they all do in some form or other to reach No 10. We may move from May fudge to Boris fudge. What trade off will there be on immigration for example? Boris has stated more than once that he favours an amnesty for long stay illegals. Also ‘taking back control’ may mean moving from mass uncontrolled immigration to mass controlled immigration!
It is to be hoped that if we leave on the 31st October and Nigel walks away from the Brexit Party pronouncing ‘my job is done’ that UKIP will have got itself a credible new leader under which we true Brexiteers can continue an effective fight against the establishments agenda.
Agreed. I would also day that this can only be ratified if it is reciprocal, in writing.
I ought to have said TWO true Brexiteers in the Cabinet as Theresa Villiers is in there also. Should have swapped out more Remain dross for Redwood (Chancellor), Braverman (Attorney General) and Baker (Brexit Sec). And A.N. Other Spartan instead of cRudd. The main thing that gives me hope is how much the Guardianista types are squealing. I feel your pain guys and
I can’t get enough of it!