Old Etonians seen as tossing No 10 around like a ‘baton’
Michael Savage, chief political correspondent for The Times, reports that the Tories are squabbling among themselves. David Cameron and Boris Johnson were accused yesterday of treating the Tory crown ‘‘like some sort of plaything’’ for Old Etonians.
The stinging criticism, from a Tory MP, came as it emerged that the Mayor of London would be handed a starring role in the general election campaign.
Tensions have already been rising between Mr Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, two of the front-runners to take over the leadership from Mr Cameron.
Allies of Mr Johnson reacted angrily to claims that Mr Osborne had suggested that the mayor should run for Parliament at the election. They regarded it as an attempt to taint Mr Johnson’s appeal in the event of defeat.
However, the squabbling over a future leadership battle reignited concern within the party that its higher echelons are drawn too narrowly from elite public schools.
‘‘Inside and outside of Parliament people are fed up of Old Etonians thinking they can pass on No 10 like some sort of plaything or baton,’’ tweeted Mark Pritchard, Tory MP for The Wrekin, Shropshire, who helped to lead a backbench rebellion over Europe.
Mr Johnson and Mr Cameron were contemporaries at Eton and both went to Oxford. They were also members of the notorious Bullingdon Club during their time at the university.
Mr Pritchard’s comments follow unease among Tory backbenchers that five people with senior positions overseeing the Tory election manifesto are Old Etonians. As well as Mr Cameron, there are Jo Johnson, the mayor’s brother who chairs the No 10 policy board, Ed Llewellyn, Mr Cameron’s chief of staff, Oliver Letwin, the policy guru, and Rupert Harrison, the Chancellor’s chief of staff. Mr Osborne was educated at St Paul’s in London.
Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has emerged as the Chancellor’s leading advocate in the battle to succeed Mr Cameron.
In an attempt to smooth over relations with Mr Johnson, the Tory leadership confirmed yesterday that he would be given star billing during next year’s campaign. Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, said that the mayor would ‘‘absolutely’’ have a leading role.
‘‘Boris Johnson is a guy who’s able to communicate incredibly well,’’ he told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show. ‘‘Of course, it would be crazy for him not to be part of that message because people in this country want to Dynamic duo: David Cameron, left, and Boris Johnson are quite the pair these days. Photo: Reuters know that we are on their side. We all think Boris is a fantastic London mayor and he’s got a lot to offer. He’s doing a brilliant job in London. His term runs till 2016, so he’s got a little way to go.’’
He added: ‘‘What Boris does is up to Boris. We just think he’s got a great contribution. He’s part of what we’re trying to do as a Government. I want him to be an important part of our campaign.’’
Mr Johnson will be presented with the perfect opportunity to build up support for a future leadership bid today when he addresses a group of prospective Tory MPs at the House of Commons.
A friend dismissed the row. ‘‘Boris’s focus is on London – it was in 2012 when he stood for a second term, it will be in 2016 when he finishes that term,’’ he said. ‘‘In between only two things matter to Boris – delivering for London, and ensuring we have a majority Conservative Government led by David Cameron after 2015.’’