PM and Gove allies clash at summer do
KEY aides of Michael Gove and Boris Johnson got into a heated altercation at a summer drinks party following the Prime Minister’s resignation.
Josh Grimstone, a special adviser to the ex-levelling up secretary, confronted Guto Harri, No 10’s communications chief, at a do hosted by The Spectator magazine.
Mr Grimstone accused Mr Harri of being a ‘disgrace’ and criticised his behaviour when ministers were urging the Prime Minister to resign.
The row on Thursday came the day after Mr Gove was sacked when The Mail+ revealed he had told the Prime Minister he should quit – a move Mr Grimstone reportedly branded a ‘revenge’ sacking.
The revelations come as Mr Johnson has urged his Cabinet to focus on the public rather than themselves amid fears the leadership contest could descend into a mud- slinging match between Tories.
Warning that a divided party risks defeat, he told ministers on Thursday: ‘Think about the voters. If there is any advice I can give to you at this stage, it is think about the voters, think about the people. We win when we talk about them, not us.’
Staunch supporter Nadine Dorries has already warned that the ‘dogs of hell have been unleashed’ with at least 11 MPs vying to lead the party. According to a government source, she told ministers: ‘Imagine 11 businesses all competing for one contract. I would like to remind colleagues that we have to be unified and we have to steer this ship for the next two months as a united party.’
But the attacks have already begun, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace branded the ‘son of Boris’ and Tom Tugendhat labelled ‘too Left-wing’.
Ex-health secretary Sajid Javid is said by critics to have ‘lost the room’ following his resignation while Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been savaged as a ‘Poundshop Thatcher’. Jacob Rees-Mogg also attacked Rishi Sunak, saying he was ‘not a successful chancellor’.