PM to referee Truss and Raab tug-of-war over country retreat

BORIS JOHNSON will be forced to decide whether Dominic Raab or Liz Truss can lay claim to Chevening House after concluding that they cannot share the grace-and-favour residence.

The Prime Minister will be forced to pick a side after Government sources confirmed that only one person would be nominated for the country retreat.

It is understood that Mr Johnson and others involved in the decision are keen to prevent a repeat of the various tussles that have played out in recent years between ministers with rival claims.

Mr Raab and Ms Truss both staked a claim to the residence in the wake of this week’s reshuffle. Traditionally, Ms Truss, who has replaced Mr Raab as Foreign Secretary, would have been guaranteed access to the 17th century house.

As Foreign Secretary, Truss is also entitled to make use of 1 Carlton Gardens, a townhouse in central London, that comes with its own ballroom.

But in granting Mr Raab the title of deputy prime minister, to soften the blow of his demotion to Justice Secretary, Mr Johnson has inadvertently given him grounds to launch a counter claim.

Mr Raab is able to cite recent precedent, as Sir Nick Clegg, the former Liberal Democrat leader and last deputy prime minister, shared Chevening with the then foreign secretary Sir William Hague. He is also likely to point out that as foreign secretary, Mr Johnson was also forced to alternate with David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, and Liam Fox, the international trade secretary.

With allies of Ms Truss making clear she believes she holds the greater claim, the dispute now passes to Mr Johnson to adjudicate. A government source suggested last night that Mr Johnson was likely to grant both ministers access rather than be seen to side publicly with one over the other.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The reshuffle is still ongoing. There is a long process in place for nominating occupants of Chevening House and we’ll update in due course.”