Ministers backing exit are ‘hardly all-stars’

THE EU referendum row descended into bitter insults just two days in after Alan Johnson, the former Labour home secretary, said that the Tory ministers backing a Brexit were “hardly political all-stars”.

Hitting back, Iain Duncan Smith, one of the six Cabinet ministers to publicly declare for the leave camp, said Mr Johnson “degrades himself ” by making personal attacks.

The hostilities suggest that while Conservative MPs intend to remain as civil as possible to their colleagues, Labour will not hold back.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Johnson said: “I wouldn’t say that the six Cabinet members that I saw yesterday could be described as the political all-stars.

“Let’s be kind. They’re not the six most astute politicians that I’ve ever met in the Cabinet.”

His insult was aimed at Michael Gove, Theresa Villiers, John Whittingdale, Mr Duncan Smith, Priti Patel and Chris Grayling.

Mr Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said the personal jibe took him by surprise. “I’m surprised at Alan being disparaging about anybody personally, frankly,” he said. “I never thought politicians were all-stars anyway.

“No politician is a celebrity. If politicians begin to believe they are celebrities they need to go and sit down in a darkened room.

“The public are tired of having this idea that it is all about celebrity status.”