Vengeful George and a vicious plot to dump Boris

A SHABBY campaign has been launched to wreck the political career of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

He is accused by his Tory enemies of plotting to seize the premiership from Theresa May and of being a loose cannon over Brexit. I am convinced, however, that his adversaries are wrong.

Few Cabinet ministers have been more supportive to the PM than Mr Johnson.

He has been respectful and — in sharp contrast to some scheming Cabinet colleagues — is exemplarily loyal. Again and again, he has come to the aid of an embattled Mrs May.

And contrary to his enemies’ claims, I’m told by Foreign Office officials that they are impressed by their boss’s ability to master his brief. (Of course, over the years, attention to detail has never been seen as Mr Johnson’s strong point.)

So what lies behind this campaign to denigrate and destroy him?

Part of it, I regret to say, is down to envy. Westminster mediocrities have long resented Boris Johnson’s raw political talent.

Also, David Cameron’s friends have still not forgotten or forgiven Mr Johnson’s brave and principled decision to campaign for Brexit. Certainly, pro-Europeans are in the vanguard of these attacks.

Above all, a treacherous role is being played by the Spectator magazine, of which Mr Johnson was editor for five years. (I should declare an interest here: I was its political editor for much of that time.) The magazine’s current political editor, James Forsyth, has written a venomous attack on Mr Johnson this week.

I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Mr Forsyth is close to former Chancellor George Osborne who, himself, is waging a constant war against Brexiteers in his new job as editor of the London Evening Standard. I hope Theresa May has the mettle and support to see off this plotting and stand firm behind Boris Johnson.