Cameron and his gloating message to Boris
DAVID Cameron sent a gloating text message to Boris Johnson after his Tory leadership bid was scuppered by Michael Gove.
On the day that Mr Johnson’s ambitions were thwarted, the then Prime Minister texted him saying: ‘You should have stuck with me, mate.’
The message was sent hours after Mr Gove made his bombshell announcement on the morning of June 30 that he did not believe the former London Mayor could provide the leadership needed after the vote in favour of Brexit, which led to Mr Cameron’s resignation.
Mr Gove had been supporting Mr Johnson’s campaign to be Tory leader before deciding to stand himself. Mr Johnson shocked Westminster by withdrawing from the race at lunchtime on June 30.
Now a book about the aftermath of the EU referendum vote on June 23 has revealed that Mr Cameron revelled in his fall. Angry at the fact that Mr Johnson had decided to back the Leave side, Mr Cameron took his revenge by sending the text.
He also made a rare appearance in the Commons tea room that day looking ‘the happiest I have seen him in a long time’, according to a member of his Cabinet.
The book also reveals that Mr Gove was warned by aides not to betray Mr Johnson because it would make Theresa May prime minister and leave him looking like Ed Miliband, who knifed his brother to take the Labour leadership.
The book, All Out War by Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, discloses that on the morning of his announcement that he was standing for election as Tory leader, Mr Gove was warned not to do it by two of his closest advisers.
At 7am, the then Justice Secretary held a conference call with his team to confirm his decision to run against Mr Johnson. His media advisers, Henry de Zoete and Paul Stephenson, told him the betrayal would not end well.
Mr Stephenson said: ‘This will be Ed Miliband times 100.’ Mr de Zoete said: ‘Theresa May will be prime minister if you do this.’ But Mr Gove went ahead with his plan, announcing it at 9am.
Mr Johnson’s first reaction was disbelief, saying: ‘Well, that’s it. I can’t go on. I can’t run.’
A source said: ‘I’ve never seen him so winded. It was not the realisation it might all be over, it was just the betrayal.’