Reshuffle is the first step in a fight back
Theresa May, who was so suddenly and so desperately weakened last Thursday evening, needed to stop the political rot as soon as possible – not primarily to preserve her own job, but to restore credibility to a Conservative administration whose Labour adversaries have been making the weather since the election. Her reshuffle yesterday went some way to doing that. Critically, those who fear for Brexit can take comfort in the return of Michael Gove, a key figure in the Leave campaign.
He was appointed Environment Secretary, but the precise role was almost immaterial. What was vastly more important was the simple fact that the Prime Minister – so heartily criticised since last week for trusting her Downing Street operation largely to two loyal advisers – was willing to bring in a bright talent from outside her circle. In a previous Cabinet role as education secretary, Mr Gove had a tremendous falling out with
Mrs May over extremism in schools. In consequence there was before the election a clear sense within the Conservative Party that, irrespective of his talents, hell would have to freeze over before he got another top job.
His appointment is therefore the perfect way for Mrs May to signal that she will henceforth be taking a new, more consultative, approach. With Damian Green, her closest ally and friend effectively serving as deputy prime minister, she now has much better eyes and ears in the party to detect the mood of her colleagues. The Conservatives at all levels can only be stronger for it.
The reshuffle also went some way to returning political momentum to No 10. This too is much needed. Jeremy Corbyn and his comrades are trying to turn talk of another election, in which they win power, into a reality. The longer the Prime Minister was closeted away, seemingly fighting a rearguard action, the more powerful that Labour narrative became. Momentum is the name of the grass-roots organisation that coalesced around Jeremy Corbyn to help him become leader of the Labour Party. And there is no doubt that momentum is precisely what he has now. With it, despite the fact that Labour was soundly beaten last week, comes a kind of faux-authority. Happily, Theresa May can now challenge that in the House, at the helm of a more united Conservative Party, whose biggest talents are on the front bench.
Not that all wounds are healed. For yesterday’s shuffle was also the first overt demonstration, in deeds not words, of how damaged the Prime Minister has become. A procession of Cabinet ministers formerly tipped for the sack arrived in Downing Street – and retained their jobs. It was hardly a shuffle at all. But her new Cabinet is now in place, and soon, it must be hoped, the terms of her new Government will be too – essential as this country is now only a week from the Queen’s speech and the start of Brexit talks. Negotiations with the DUP have clearly moved at pace. Certainly, the suggestion over the weekend that they had already come to a successful conclusion was not helpful, especially as it led to the DUP, humiliatingly, denying that this was the case. But confirmation of a confidence deal will surely not be long in coming.
And when it does, there is – as Charles Moore writes on this page – no reason why the result cannot endure, potentially for the next five years. The coalition of 2010, which seemed a great novelty at its outset, lasted the term; there is no reason why this minority government cannot do the same. For it to do so, the Conservative Party must show that it is, above all, at the service of the nation. And Theresa May must continue to make it clear that she is, above all, at the service of the party – something that she can signal as early as today when she meets its backbench 1922 committee. Securing a spirit of cooperation at all levels is the best way to ensure that, as the nownotorious formula has it, a “strong and stable” government leads Brexit talks with authority.
For despite all the political turbulence, despite all the upheaval and the disruption about which the electorate is rightly aggrieved, one fact remains as startlingly and crucially true as ever: Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to be prime minister. It is imperative that, whatever happens over the next few weeks and months, Conservative disarray does not allow Labour to turn momentum into power. Voters are in a mood to punish politicians. The Conservatives need to re-establish credibility and authority, not trigger an immediate leadership election, which could well develop into a general election.
Reclaiming that authority will take time. It will be a long and gruelling task with no obvious political prize at the end of it, save perhaps to hand over a party with its prospects greatly improved from where they stand today. This is the task to which the Prime Minister must now apply herself. It will take dedication, which we know she possesses in abundance. It will also, in its way, take a great measure of strong – yet selfless – leadership. If her premiership is to endure, this is the challenge to which she must rise.
It is imperative that Tory disarray doesn’t allow Labour to turn momentum into power