Shocking tactics straight out of Trump playbook

WESTMINSTER insiders have for some time been whispering that Boris Johnson will stop at nothing to seize power.

But yesterday provided proof of how far he is prepared to go to become PM.

Comparing the Prime Minister to a suicide bomber was immediately called out as a step too far from a ruthlessly ambitious politician whose bid to seize Theresa May’s job is quickly coming off the rails.

Many were stunned and shocked that Mr Johnson could – and would – stoop so low. But others who know him well were not surprised.

In tactics like those used by Donald Trump, he simply responded to revelations about his private life with deliberately inflammatory and hurtful comments on a different subject – Theresa May’s handling of Brexit.

The scathing remarks show that Mr Johnson’s willingness to challenge the PM has not been diluted by the recent revelations. In fact, they have only seen him grow bolder.

The bid to deflect focus away from his private life is one famously used by Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist to the US president.

Last month the Mirror told how Mr Johnson had held secret talks with Mr Bannon.

This last week we have seen Mr Johnson hit again and again with lurid allegations about his private life. And – just as Mr Trump did when faced with allegations of cheating – he simply shifted the debate.