Boris at bay as friends reveal money worries might be adding to PM’S problems
Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure from his own MPS to improve his p e r f o rma n c e after weeks of lacklustre leadership and political missteps, backbench sources claimed yesterday.
The Prime Minister insists he is fully recovered from his bout with Covid, when he needed intensive care in hospital but both political friends and foes at Westminster report that he has, at times, appeared disengaged and lacking concentration.
Ye s t e rd a y, friends we re reported voicing concern that money worries were adding to the pressure on the PM. He receives a prime ministerial salary of about £ 150,000, five times the average wage but far less than when he was earning from speeches and newspaper columns.
One friend, quoted in The Times, said: “He doesn’t have a housekeeper – he has a single cleaner and they’re worried about being able to afford a nanny. He’s stuck in the flat and Downing Street is not a nice place to live. It’s not like the Élysée or the White House where you can get away from it all because they’re so big.”
The Prime Minister’s team r ubbish suggestions that he has not fully recovered and that he may re s i g n w i t h i n a ye a r but sources at Westminster remain concerned about his ability to concentrate. One said: “He’s pin- sharp one day and then he will say to somebody ‘ Why have you not briefed me on that?’ and he’ll be told ‘ You were told that yesterday’.” After a threat to rip up the EU exit treaty provoked condemnation at home and abroad, many Tory MPS are also worried about ministers’ ability to deal with Covid and Brexit although their political opponents had little sympathy yesterday.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole- Hamilton said: “There are people facing serious financial hardship and whose jobs are on the line because of his mismanagement of the virus crisis and the arrogant approach he’s taking to Brexit. Those are the people this government should be concerned about. Not a prime minister who resents having to pay for his own food.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “Whether it has to do with the Prime Minister being jaded or not, there has to be greater care in the messages that he and the UK Government are delivering to the public.”
Ian Murray, Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: “There is growing unease about Boris Johnson’s handling of this crisis.”