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Here’s to another grim week of crisis management for our beleaguered, beleaguered prime minister, Rishi Sunak. (More adjectives on a postcard, ie in response to this email).
Reports over the weekend were full of stories of would-be plots, coups and putsches — all with the intention of uprooting the incumbent of number 10. This week, as I predicted in my Week-in-Review article, every time is going to be about how or if Sunak could stop such speculation. Let’s take stock and see how it does:
Walking into the first wave of fire in the media this morning was business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, one of the many senior Conservatives visited as a possible successor to the prime minister. Last week, Badenoch became the first cabinet minister to break ranks and label 2019 Conservative donor Frank Hester’s alleged comments as “racist”. For many, this intervention — which effectively rebounded the Prime Minister to make the same statement four hours later — was an example of Badenoch’s continued ambition.
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This morning, however, with the task of carrying out a difficult broadcast round, Badenoch went to battle for his strict boss. In a typically abrasive display, Badenoch argued that the Conservative Party had “drawn a line” under its own row of donor racism. The fire then turned back on the media, slamming journalists for fanning the flames of SW1’s psychodrama. More here.
Also racing to the prime minister’s aid today is former defense secretary Ben Wallace. Boris Johnson loyalist has previously argued that such leadership “shenanigans” only benefit the Labor Party, declaring it was “time to put our best case” to voters. He called on his colleagues to “march to the sound of the guns” (probably a euphemism for electoral defeat) and “get on” (ibid).
With allies like these, who needs conspirators?
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Speaking of conspirators, former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke – one of two Conservative MPs to publicly call for the Prime Minister’s ouster – responded to Wallace’s comments on X/Twitter with a quote from Blackadder Goes On: “I mean who would have noticed another madman around here?”.
For what it’s worth, Sunak’s response today has been typical of his political style (ie what got him into this mess). Speaking to broadcasters this morning, he refused to engage with the conspiracy rumours: “I’m not interested in all the politics of Westminster. It does not matter. What is important is the future of our country. And that’s what I’m totally focused on”.
It came as the First Minister delivered a speech on his pledge to create thousands of new apprenticeships at a “Business Connect” conference in Warwickshire. Unfortunately for Sunak, his own job is the only job Westminster is interested in at the moment.
Briefing at lunchtime
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A lunchtime idea
There comes a moment in time in the election cycle where you effectively put on your best suit, you stand up and you march towards the sound of the guns and you get on with it.
— Former defense secretary Ben Wallace tells Conservative Party rebels it is “too late” to replace Rishi Sunak and they must focus on trying to win the next general election. Through Radio Times.
Now try this
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Domestic Politics reports.
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