How many seats does Boris Johnson need to gain in order to give his top team a major reshuffle?
That has been the chatter in Westminster following the resignation of bungling Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and a disastrous broadcast blunder by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg.
If the shuffle were to happen straight after the Election, poor Javid would be the first Chancellor in modern history never to give a Budget, but seasoned sources suggest any big changes will only come after the January 31 Brexit deadline
There is also what Tory insiders call ‘the major headache’ of what to do about Michael Gove now his No Deal planning job is all but defunct
There is also what Tory insiders call ‘the major headache’ of what to do about Michael Gove now his No Deal planning job is all but defunct, with Mr Johnson’s one-time rival tipped for a promotion.
Whispers persist that, after clashing on strategy, Sajid Javid could be for the chop if Boris romps home with ‘a double digit majority’ – with telegenic Treasury deputy Rishi Sunak favourite to fill any vacancy.
If the shuffle were to happen straight after the Election, poor Javid would be the first Chancellor in modern history never to give a Budget, but seasoned sources suggest any big changes will only come after the January 31 Brexit deadline.
Officially No10 is ‘only focused on polling day’, but unofficially the reshuffle wargaming is well underway.
However, as one hand-wringing aide said: ‘If the majority is less than 20 it’ll be next-to-impossible to run a Government and Boris will be out of here anyway.’
Storm in a disposable cup
She was the breakout star of Tory Party conference after her withering dressing-down of a colleague for handing the PM a non-greenie coffee cup went viral.
But judging by this picture – and the evidence I’ve circled – it seems Tory events supremo Shelley Williams-Walker needs to reprise her hissed ‘no disposable cups’ order on the PM’s campaign jet…
Judging by this picture – and the evidence I’ve circled – it seems Tory events supremo Shelley Williams-Walker needs to reprise her hissed ‘no disposable cups’ order on the PM’s campaign jet…
It’s not just the NHS that faces a winter flu crisis. Worried Tory bosses have put their hundreds of Election staffers on a health kick for the duration of the campaign.
Theresa May was ordered to stay away from CCHQ during the last Election to avoid the ‘cesspit’ of germs.
This time, Aussie campaign chief Isaac Levido is warning that the traditional staple of pizza and beer be avoided.
‘It’s all green stuff and vegan sausage rolls,’ laments an aide. But I hear the lurgy is already spreading regardless.
Theresa May was ordered to stay away from CCHQ during the last Election to avoid the ‘cesspit’ of germs. She is pictured wiping her nose at a G20 summit in Japan earlier this year
Boris Johnson’s ‘do or dry’ pledge to give up booze until he gets Brexit done was well known to Mail on Sunday readers by the time the PM publicly admitted he was off the sauce during a campaign stop this week. But now it’s ‘do or diet’ as well.
Offered a selection of doughnuts on a visit to the Nottingham Post newsroom on Friday, the sheepish PM said ‘I am fat enough’, despite his aide saying he ‘could go for a smaller one’ if he wanted.
Could neither the Liberal Democrats nor Labour find a British business to back? Both parties are using battle buses manufactured by Chinese firm Yutong.
What will be the ‘Ed Balls moment’ of Election night – the highest profile scalping?
The Liberal Democrats think they can oust Jeremy Hunt in his notionally safe seat of South West Surrey, where they came second between 1983 to 2010, at one point reducing the Tory majority to under 1,000.
Jo Swinson’s Remoaners are eyeing the 12,093 votes the NHS Action Party took from the then Health Secretary in 2017 and have convinced the Greens to stand down from the seat where 60 per cent voted to Remain.
‘He’s woken up very late to the fact there is a proper fight on,’ whispers my yellow source.
The Liberal Democrats think they can oust Jeremy Hunt (above) in his notionally safe seat of South West Surrey, where they came second between 1983 to 2010
Tories all shook up over campaign song
The race is on to find the ‘campaign anthem’ to be played every morning at 8.30 to pump up Conservative Party HQ for the day ahead.
Fittingly on message, there will be an internal referendum this week ‘and the result respected regardless’.
Interestingly, plenty of Brexit-themed songs have been at the top of the charts on December 12 – polling day – over the years.
In 1986 it was Europe with The Final Countdown, while in 1967 it was the Beatles hit Hello, Goodbye.
In 1960 it was It’s Now Or Never by Elvis Presley, and in 2001 Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Bedingfield.
But surely Will Young’s Leave Right Now December 2003 No 1 has a good shout?
Eyebrows were raised in Whitehall after Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill stepped in to block the official publication of the traditional Treasury costings of opposition Election pledges, to the fury of Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid.
‘Mark is sulking because they are still blocking his move to Washington,’ whispers a mole gleefully.
Cabinet Office sources expect a new Civil Service grand panjandrum to be unveiled in the New Year when a new Ambassador to America is finally appointed…