Showboating ministers kept in check by dismissal threat
DOWNING Street has warned “showboating” ministers that they will be primary targets for dismissal in next month’s reshuffle.
A No10 source said Boris Johnson intended to “reward competence and hard work”, as insiders criticised ministers who had spent much of their time conducting television and radio interviews to build their public profiles.
The intervention will bolster claims that Mr Johnson is using the prospect of the reshuffle as a “Sword of Damocles” to keep ministers in line amid behind-the-scenes tussles over No10’s tight restrictions on Cabinet ministers’ media engagements.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s policy unit, led by Munira Mirza, who co-wrote the Conservative manifesto, is due to write to all ministers in charge of government departments to outline the key priorities they are expected to deliver.
Mr Johnson is expected to make a major speech in early February to confirm his plans for “life after Brexit”.
Downing Street aides confirmed that Mr Johnson is planning to carry out post-Brexit changes to his ministerial team before the Commons rises for recess on Feb 13.
Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, and Esther McVey, the housing minister, who attends Cabinet, are both being touted as possible candidates for demotion. Sajid Javid, the Chancellor, is the only minister whose job is guaranteed.
The No10 source said: “In his time in office, the Prime Minister has been consistently clear that this Government will reward competence and hard work. We have been impressed by members of the Cabinet and junior ministers who have quietly got on with driving real change within their departments and delivering on the PM’s priority to level up our country.”
Yesterday The Daily Telegraph revealed that US diplomats believe the Prime Minister is poised to seek Cabinet authorisation to open trade talks directly with America on a visit to Washington next month.
Mr Johnson has asked negotiators at the Department for International Trade to start discussion with countries such as the US, New Zealand and Australia, at the same time as negotiations begin with the EU after Jan 31.