Why I am convinced we must put Boris in to bat... NOW

On day Johnson played cricket at Diana’s estate...

ONCE the result of the referendum had been declared, David Cameron’ s resignation announcement was widely expected.

Having led the remain camp up and down the country with such zeal and commitment, he did the noble thing and fell on his sword.

Cameron has said he wants a new leader in place for the Conservative Party conference. The President of the European Commission, JeanClaude Juncker, a man known to have a bit of a paddy, stated that he wants divorce proceedings and exit negotiations to begin immediately.

Reassurance is demanded from the people, the markets, the EU, public institutions and the world in general and yet none can be given.

Those who should be leading these crucial negotiations are those who led the successful leave campaign. But they have no access to power, institutions or influence.

Meanwhile, Cameron has turned overnight into a caretaker not a leader. The country has voted for policies not proposed or endorsed by No10.

George Osborne is nowhere to be seen. This has created a vacuum that cannot be allowed to continue.

In 2003, I sat outside Michael Howard’s office while a meeting took place between Osborne, Cameron, Howard and Oliver Letwin about the direct transfer of power from a besieged Iain Duncan Smith to Michael Howard.

The sop to placate MPs being denied a vote was that Howard would be a caretaker leader until after the 2005 General Election – which the Tories were never expected to win with the polls stacked so heavily against them. After the defeat, he would call a leadership election.

I remember conversations about Boris Johnson being an obstacle. In my opinion, he was already being viewed as possible future leadership contender and the tone was that this was problematic.

Immediately following the 2005 Election, Howard attempted to change the party rules, to remove the right of Conservative members to vote for their own party leader. That attempt was flattened, following a brave campaign by the members’ website ConservativeHome.com.

Howard duly resigned and called a leadership election.

The process is that MPs vote to select two leadership contenders to place before the party membership. Members return their ballot papers and the winner is announced at party conference in October.

This is a disabling process, which can be tolerated when in opposition. But when we are the governing party, facing the huge and urgent task we have before us, it is indulgent to say the least.

Having experienced the bloody campaigning of the 2005 Conservative leadership battle, that is the very last thing this country needs now. Pundits wrote that it would take years for the scars from that internal strife to heal and they were right. For some, they are still deep.

Westminster will be a grim place when we return on Monday as the election of a new leader gets under- way. The manoeuvring has already begun at a time when more than ever we need stability and strength in government.

All the worst elements of the referendum campaign will be distilled within the palace walls as Conservative MPs form rival camps. Osborne, who has spent years, wooing and promoting MPs in preparation for this moment, will be in the background, plotting.

Whichever MPs fancy their chances at the top job will gather their acolytes and campaign to secure the nomination of other MPs. Reputations will be trashed, friendships tested – and all in front of the world’s media.

Thanks to a recent survey carried out by YouGov, we know that among party members, Boris is clear favourite for leader over Osborne by a margin of 20 per cent. Michael Gove, who has said he does not want to stand, was not on the list. If that poll were conducted today, Boris’s margin would likely be higher.

If Boris were not on that list of two MPs to be put before party members, there would be a constitutional crisis within the party and outrage in the country.

He has consistently been voted as our most popular MP. The London Olympics, which he so successfully oversaw, were not that long ago.

At times like this, the country has no time for MPs with large egos and no prospect of ever becoming leader entering into a leadership battle to boost their public profile.

It was bad enough during Labour’s election of Jeremy Corbyn. The public will also have zero tolerance with Osborne’s Cromwell-esque machinations, better suited to the 1600s than the 21st Century.

As the baton was handed over in 2003 – in calmer days, in opposition – the same needs to happen now.

As an absolute advocate of democracy, I do not believe that members should be denied a vote.

But, that vote can come later, when the immediate work with the EU has been done – and before the next General Election.

NOW is the time for Cameron to hand over the baton to Boris, the members’ favourite, as Blair did to Brown, and as Cameron accepted the baton – with Michael Howard as an interim – from Iain Duncan Smith, back in 2003.

Cameron cannot possibly hold the principle that it was OK then, when it suited him, and not now.

The country voted to leave the EU based on an alternative manifesto laid down by Johnson and Gove. Even in the Northern Labour heartlands voted for it in droves – which will have struck the fear of God into the hearts of Labour MPs under the ineffectual Corbyn.

In contrast, Boris asked people to go out and vote for hope. To take back control of our borders and to fight for democracy. People backed for his message. They wanted Independence Day – and now they have it.

Boris is the establishment now, his ideas winning the support of the nation. For the sake of the country, it’s time for Cameron to hand over the baton.

Voters backed his manifesto – now make him our leader