Politics

Chaos as Tories vow to jump ship if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister


Boris Johnson is expected to take the helm of the floundering Tories on Tuesday as Britain careers into an almighty storm.

If he becomes PM a string of colleagues are set to resign from the Cabinet over his pledge to steer towards a no-deal Brexit.

And as the Iran crisis deepens, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood admitted the Royal Navy is “too small” to protect British ships. The Mirror can also reveal Mr Johnson is set for a huge windfall after receiving an offer on his £3.75million former marital pad.

Boris Johnson is expected to walk into his new home at No10 Downing Street this week having banked a huge windfall from the sale of the property.

Boris Johnson will be buoyed by the bulging profit of his house sale

 

The former Foreign Secretary is tipped to become Prime Minister in a landslide triumph when the result of the Tory leadership race is announced on Tuesday.

But his crowning as Conservative party chief is set to trigger an exodus of moderate ministers and the most divisive Conservative Government since Margaret Thatcher.

The bookies’ favourite for Downing Street is expected to claim the Downing Street keys amid a bitter party civil war.

But he will be buoyed by the bulging profit on the home he shared with estranged wife Marina Wheeler.

The Mirror can exclusively reveal the pair, who are in the process of divorcing, have received an offer “very close to the asking price” on their former marital home in Islington, North London.

We told in May how the five-storey, Grade-II listed, Georgian, four-bed pad close to Regent’s Canal had gone on the market.

The couple bought the property for £2.3million in 2009 – and if the profits are split equally each will net a cool £700,000.

Mr Johnson, 55, and latest lover Ms Symonds, 31, have reportedly bought a £1.3 million house together in Camberwell, South London.

Carrie Symonds has reportedly bought a £1.3m Camberwell pad together with Boris Johnson

 

If he wins the premiership and the pair move into No10, they could rent out the three-storey, Victorian property, potentially netting tens of thousands of pounds a year in rent.

The house is a mile away from her flat where they had a blazing row which led to neighbours calling the police last month.

Mr Johnson was heavily criticised last year after refusing to leave the Foreign Secretary’s £20million grace-and-favour home in London’s exclusive Carlton Gardens, despite quitting the Cabinet.

He squatted in the property for two weeks.

As he prepares to move into his latest Government-owned home, he faces the prospect of long-serving, experienced ministers opting to jump ship rather than sit in his Cabinet as it steers a course towards a hard Brexit .

Two – Chancellor Philip Hammond and Justice Secretary David Gauke – have already confirmed they would voluntarily walk the plank.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said he will quit if Boris Johnson to pursue a no-deal Brexit

 

While former Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson has No10 almost within his grasp, he will inherit a divided party which some fear could split permanently.

Mr Johnson is ready to clear the decks as he presses to pull the UK out of the EU by October 31, with or without a deal.

He is expected to draft in a host of hard right, anti-EU loyalists as the Tories lurch even further from the centre ground.

MPs opposed to quitting without an agreement with Brussels are set to be boosted on the backbenches by a new batch of ex-ministers if, as expected, he is unveiled as the winner at Westminster’s QEII centre.

Theresa May will quit No10 on Wednesday before handing the keys to her successor, who will appoint his own Cabinet.

Asked on the BBC if he thought he would be sacked, Mr Hammond said: “No, I’m sure I’m not going to be sacked because I’m going to resign before we get to that point.

“Assuming that Boris Johnson becomes the next Prime Minister, I understand that his conditions for serving in his Government would include accepting a no-deal exit on October 31, and it’s not something that I could ever sign up to.

“It’s very important that the Prime Minister is able to have a Chancellor who is closely aligned with him in terms of policy, and I therefore intend to resign to Theresa May before she goes to the Palace to tender her own resignation on Wednesday.”

Independent MP Nick Boles, who quit the Conservatives this year because the party was “incapable of compromise” on Brexit, praised Mr Hammond’s decision.

“Philip Hammond has discovered his irreducible core, the point past which he cannot be pushed,” Mr Boles tweeted.

“If only others had the same commitment to their principles.”

Hammond is one of only three ministers to have served continuously in the Cabinet since 2010, but looks set to resign under Johnson’s leadership

 

Mr Hammond is one of only three ministers to have served continuously in the Cabinet since the Tories returned to power in 2010 under David Cameron.

He has been Transport, Defence and Foreign Secretary.

The other two ministers to be continuously in Cabinet since 2010 are Mr Johnson’s leadership rival Jeremy Hunt and outgoing PM Mrs May.

Mr Gauke said he would not serve under the former Foreign Secretary if he pursues a no-deal Brexit.

He told the Sunday Times: “If the test of loyalty to stay in the Cabinet is a commitment to support no-deal on October 31 – which, to be fair to him, Boris has consistently said – then that’s not something I’m prepared to sign up to.

“I recognise that this spell in Government is coming to an end.

“Given that I’ve been in the Cabinet since Theresa May came to power, I think the appropriate thing is for me to resign to her.”

International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has already said he would not stay in Cabinet if Mr Johnson was PM.

Business Secretary Greg Clark is also expected to resign if Mr Johnson takes over.

Junior Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood wouldn’t be drawn on quitting

 

Junior Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood left the door open to quitting, repeatedly sidestepping questions about his future career if Brexiteer Mr Johnson triumphs.

“I really get frustrated with this energy towards no-deal. I know all my parliamentary colleagues on all sides of the House recognise the dangers of no-deal,” he told Sky News.

“The fact that we keep talking about it – it isn’t a solution.”

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “Philip Hammond’s extraordinary revelation underlines the twin threats posed to the UK economy of a no-deal Brexit and Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister.

“The Conservatives have bungled the Brexit negotiations, dragged down the economy and put jobs at risk.

“They are now on the brink of appointing a Prime Minister that their own Chancellor believes would be a danger to the economy and the wellbeing of everyone in the UK.”

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Tory Leadership fight

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “Nobody was expecting Philip Hammond to stay in the Treasury in the event of a Boris Johnson premiership.

“But his resignation on Sunday morning TV was a dramatic blow to Boris Johnson before he’s even formally won the keys to Downing Street.

“The threat of a no-deal Brexit is very real – but what’s now clear is that senior figures within the Tory Party could join others in stopping it.”

Conservative peer Baroness Ros Altmann said last night(SUN): “The prospect of a Boris Johnson-led Government trying to drag the country out of the EU and into a disastrous no-deal scenario is growing all the time.

“That’s why it’s so encouraging to see more and more pragmatic, patriotic Conservatives like Philip Hammond and David Gauke are now standing up and saying they will not allow this to happen on their watch.”

This Week In Politics:

Monday:  Boris Johnson and close aides finalise plans for Government, including picks for Cabinet roles. They polish his victory speech.

Tuesday: (11.45am): The winner – probably Johnson – announced at QEII Conference Centre, Westminster.

Wednesday (noon): Theresa May’s final Prime Minister’s Questions.

Mid-afternoon: May resigns to the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Late afternoon: The victor is driven to the Palace where the monarch will invite him to form a Government.

Early evening: New PM arrives in Downing Street to give first speech.

Late evening: New Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary.

Thursday : Handpicked Tory MPs summoned to No10 to be offered jobs.

5pm: Parliament rises for summer recess.

Friday : More junior ministers are appointed.





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