Cabinet Secretary Grant Shapps stressed today that the “world has moved on” from Boris Johnson following the former prime minister’s dramatic resignation as an MP.
The energy minister sought to limit the damage to the government following the departure of three Conservative MPs – including Mr Johnson – from parliament in recent days.
Mr Shapps praised the ex-Tory leader’s “many qualities” but stressed that there are now “various challenges” and that under Rishi Sunak there is “new management in number 10”.
He also lashed out at Mr Johnson for ‘withdrawing himself from politics’ by leaving the House of Commons and also claimed that the ex-Prime Minister was ‘occasionally’ not fully aware of the details of matters.
Still, Mr Shapps refused to rule out a political comeback for Mr Johnson – who was pictured today giving a thumbs up as he went for a morning jog with his dog Dilyn – admitting that he “never would predict’.
Allies of Johnson predict a swift return for the former prime minister – including ahead of the next general election – despite his explosive departure from the House of Commons.
But ex-Tory Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has demanded that Johnson be blocked from ever standing again as a Conservative MP.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a thumbs up this morning as he went for a run with his dog Dilyn
The former Tory leader has left the House of Commons in dramatic fashion over Partygate and a row over his peerage
Energy Minister Grant Shapps insisted Mr Johnson’s ‘world has moved on’ as he sought to contain damage to Rishi Sunak’s government
Mr Johnson left Parliament over Partygate and a row over his peerage.
He launched a brutal attack on a ‘kangaroo court’ of MPs investigating his denials of breaking the Covid rule, and also tore up the direction of Mr Sunak’s government.
Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, both staunch supporters of Johnson, have also stepped down as MPs in what was seen as an attempt to destabilize Sunak’s government.
Mr Shapps sought to play down the impact of the trio’s resignations on the government, denying suggestions that Mr Johnson had been forced out of parliament by ‘the establishment’.
“Boris is someone with many qualities, but we are now in a world where there are different challenges and we have new management in No10,” the energy minister told Sky News.
‘Actually, in the end Boris had every right to remain a Member of Parliament.
“He has decided to step down and some of my other colleagues, all of whom I have worked with and Boris in particular, have enjoyed working with him as prime minister.
“But… the world has moved on. He is the one who removed himself from the current political scene by stepping down as an MP.
“We have excellent leadership at number 10 with Rishi Sunak.”
Lord Frost, Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator and also cabinet minister under Johnson, predicted that the former prime minister had not left front-line politics for good.
In an article for the Sunday Telegraphtold the Conservative colleague how Mr Johnson, then Secretary of State, drove away from a photo-op in Japan in a million-pound electric vehicle.
Pursued by agitated British officials and Japanese motorists, he vanished into the six lanes of Tokyo traffic in the uninsured, million-pound vehicle.
“We didn’t know where he would come back, or when, or in what condition. Of course he showed up five minutes later, unharmed, thrilled, much to the relief of everyone involved.
‘This time too, we don’t know where or when he’ll be back. But I’m sure the story isn’t over yet.’
Lord Frost, who was Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator and also a cabinet minister under Johnson, predicted that the ex-prime minister had not left front-line politics for good.
Ex-Tory Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has demanded that Johnson be blocked from ever standing again as a Conservative MP
Sir James Duddridge, a former trade minister, also predicted a swift political return for Mr Johnson.
“Operation Boris will continue, just from his office, a stone’s throw from the House of Commons, rather than the smaller, shabbier he got as an MP,” he wrote in the Sun on Sunday.
‘My tip, go to Ladbrokes and put a fiver on his return, maybe even before the next election.
“The Wilderness Months, not Years, would be a good title for the chapter of the next period in his life.”
But Lord Heseltine, a fierce critic of both Johnson and Brexit, demanded the ex-premier never return as a Tory MP.
“It is inconceivable to me that under these circumstances he could stand again as a Conservative MP,” he wrote in The Observer.
It is up to the Conservative central bureau to confirm an official Conservative candidate.
No doubt he will now go out into the world and make huge sums of money, writing history as he thinks it has been done. But it will have little to do with the reality of the mess he left behind.’
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded that Mr Sunak call an immediate general election following the resignation of Mr Johnson, Ms Dorries and Mr Adams from the House of Commons.
“Rishi Sunak must finally find a backbone, call an election and let the public speak out about 13 years of Tory failure,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“This farce has to stop. The people have had enough.’