PM TOLD – DITCH ‘LEFTY’ POLICIES AND RESET VISION
ALLIES have urged the Prime Minister to drop “Lefty policies”, clear out his Downing Street operation and face down Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
The Sunday Express has learnt Boris Johnson is arranging meetings with people to bring into his team and has reached out to “fresh faces with fresh ideas”.
The PM had requested advice from trusted allies who pointed him to a “total reset” of his operations.
But the shake-up plans are being resisted by his inner circle – most notably friends of his wife Carrie – sources claim.
However, changes are coming as the Government braces for the publication of civil servant Sue Gray’s report on allegations of parties in Downing Street.
The dossier is set to land on Mr Johnson’s desk within days.
It is believed that after discussions with the Met Police, which is conducting a criminal investigation into the accusations, the report will be written in a way where it can be published in full.
After the police probe and any legal action is complete there is a possibility Ms Gray will issue a second report.
Campaigning yesterday in his Romford constituency, veteran Tory backbencher Andrew Rosindell said: “Most people are bored with the partygate story.
“The people I met in the streets want the Prime Minister to stay.
“The only ones still angry are the ones who want Boris and the Conservatives out anyway.
“The Remainers are behind this because they hope that
with Boris gone they can soften Brexit.”
One potential change suggested is bringing in top civil servant Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is currently permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
But allies have been blunt in the advice given to Mr Johnson after he requested help from outside his inner circle.
The revamp, said one longterm ally of the PM, must encompass “the entire No 10 operation and it has to go beyond window dressing”.
Doing away with “Lefty” policies”, and removing those who suggest them, would give backbenchers hope, they added.
The ally said: “Boris gets advice from a number of
young men alongside his young wife, which puts him at odds with party members and backbenchers.
“Tax rises, an obsession with net carbon neutral policies that will crucify red wall voters, along with green taxes and animal sentience laws, are not what we should be focused on.”
The supporter added: “There are serious issues facing us, and the inability to grasp this, by advisors who have never had to deal with the realities of life in business or beyond the M25, points to a poor operation at the heart of government.
“Un-conservative policies such as raising corporation tax from 18 to 25 per cent is mind boggling to Conservative MPS who hold Boris’s future in their
hands and the traditional party base of entrepreneurs and small business people.”
There is concern Mr Sunak is behind the tax rises, leading to calls for him to be axed.
The insider added: “The Chancellor has been captured by the Treasury on tax rises and the planned national insurance rise.
“Boris has to face him down on this, and face down his wife and her young friends on their pet projects.
“For Boris to survive he cannot be advised by his wife and her friends who are fixated on what appeals to their metropolitan sensibilities.”
Brexiteer Tories have mobilised to protect the PM – fearing a replacement could be someone unable to stand up to the EU.
One former minister said: “We’ve got to save Boris.”
Despite the challenges, they were upbeat about the PM surviving, saying: “It’s very hard to get rid of a Prime Minister who doesn’t want to go and he certainly doesn’t want to go.”
Tory MPS have been called in to meet Mr Johnson as he seeks to shore up support. An MP on the Right said he can survive if he adopts core Tory policies.
But one high-profile member of the 2019 intake said: “The Government’s now starting to damage the party.”