Leave wants Osborne to take senior cabinet role
Pro-Remain Chancellor could keep his post or become foreign secretary in ‘unity government’
THE Leave campaign is hoping that George Osborne will become foreign secretary or chancellor in Boris Johnson’s “unity government”, it is understood.
In an attempt to bring the Tory party back together after the EU referendum, senior figures in Leave have started talks with Mr Osborne, the current Chancellor, to secure his support.
They believe his support is essential if the Conservative Party is to come back together in the wake of the divisive referendum campaign.
However, Mr Osborne is understood to be furious at Leave’s behaviour in recent months and is contemplating a leadership bid himself.
Another option is that Mr Osborne give his support to a “stop Boris” candidate, most likely to be Theresa May, the Home Secretary. Under Leave’s plan, Mr Osborne would either choose to continue in the Treasury or take the role of foreign secretary, sources have said.
Michael Gove would then take whichever job Mr Osborne did not choose, allowing him to run the Brexit negotiations from the Treasury or the Foreign Office.
Mr Johnson is expected to announce his decision to contest the leadership of the party within days, backed by Mr Gove. They believe they need the backing of a number of senior pro-EU ministers to have a chance of reuniting the party, sources say.
Mr Johnson yesterday held talks at his Oxfordshire home with Mr Gove and other MPs preparing to back his leadership challenge. They include Ben Wallace, a Northern Ireland minister; Jake Berry, a former aide to Grant Shapps; Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, and Amanda Milling, who was elected last year in Cannock Chase.
Meanwhile, Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, said Mr Johnson and Mrs May should strike a deal to form a “united leadership” for Britain and the Tory party.
A “strong Conservative government” should have Mr Johnson at its centre to recognise the outcome of the European Union referendum, she added.
Writing on the Conservative Home website, Ms Greening said: “A leadership contest now is not in the interests of our country.
“It will mean our party focuses inward – at the very time our country most needs us to focus outward. Instead of a leadership contest which could take weeks and months, Boris Johnson and Theresa May should agree to forge a deal which means they are a united leadership, under one or the other: a united leadership that for the sake of unity I hope the rest of our party could support.”
David Cameron will today make an emotional address to Parliament, as it emerged he will remain neutral in the Conservative leadership battle. He will use a Commons statement at 3.30pm to try to “calm things down” after a weekend of turmoil.
A Cabinet meeting this morning will be the first time since the referendum that Mr Cameron comes face-to-face with Mr Gove.