Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BORIS FACES A MAYNIPULATOR
» Insiders say she is biggest threat » Ex-PM will ‘do a Thatcher’
THE biggest threat to new Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s premiership is Theresa May, say Westminster insiders.
The former PM is poised to take her place on the backbenches when Parliament returns – and many believe she will “do a Thatcher” by running things from behind the scenes.
Insiders say that with a slim majority, Mr Johnson will struggle to get legislation through.
And with Brexit looming, Mrs May’s influence on the backbenches will be crucial.
Mr Johnson killed off her deal this week and said the UK was prepared to leave without one.
And, in a move that infuriated her inner circle, he pressed for the backstop to be scrapped. Sources say she is making plans to set traps for the new leader. Her first step was consolidating her power base.
Hours after leaving Downing Street, she watched England’s cricketers with two of her since-sacked ministers, David Gauke and Greg Clark, and ex-chief of staff Gavin Barwell.
Earlier, Mrs May was spotted wearing a gold pebble bracelet that bore a striking resemblance to one that belonged to Mrs Thatcher.
This prompted speculation she had been the secret bidder at an auction in May. One Whitehall source said: “May might have bought Thatcher’s bracelet but she also plans to copy what she did when she stood down.
“She’s going to bring together all her former Cabinet ministers. She’ll plot and give them orders.
“They threaten a guerilla war against Boris. She’s angry and will get even.”
As she left No10 Mrs May said she hoped for a Brexit “that works for the whole United Kingdom” – a remark
seen as a message to
her successor. The replacement of her Cabinet with hardline Brexiteers has given Mrs May a taste for revenge, insiders say.
Within hours of the new PM taking over, 13 full Cabinet ministers and four others who attended Cabinet were sacked or resigned. The clear-out included many of her old guard.
International trade secretary Liam Fox and Greg Clark, the business secretary, left their roles, as did education secretary Damian Hinds, and James Brokenshire, the housing and communities secretary. Sources say Mr Johnson’s strategy was a gamble – and he is relying on outgoing ministers staying loyal.
One insider said: “They’ve fired people who they think will vote for the Government’s deal on Brexit. That’s why you’ve seen strange people brought in – they had to be bought off.
“There are loads of people Mrs May gave positions to. They owe her.”
If, as expected, the Tories lose the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election on Thursday to the Liberal Democrats, the Government’s working majority will fall from two to one. It will be the smallest of any PM since John Major. The insider added: “Can you imagine getting anything through?”
Mrs Thatcher fell out with Mr Major over his handling of the economy just weeks after she resigned as PM.
They had a row in January 1991 over interest rates and she was furious about his plan to abandon the poll tax.
Brexiteers who join the Government as junior ministers include Zac Goldsmith at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for International Development, Simon Clarke at the Treasury and Nadine Dorries as health and social care minister.
I want to be the PM who does with Northern Powerhouse Rail what we did with Crossrail in London
BORIS JOHNSON IN MANCHESTER YESTERDAY