Inside Politics: Boris Johnson warned Tory backbenchers ‘losing faith’

Influential Tory MP Steve Baker has reportedly raised concerns about ‘the PM’s leadership’ if lockdown is not lifted soon enough, writes Adam Forrest

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson speaks during a virtual press conference at No 10 Downing Street on 7 January, 2021 in London, England. The PM’s father, Stanley Johnson, has compared his Covid response to Winston Churchill in World War II. (Getty Images)

Are socially-distanced celebrations possible in the Premier League? Expect more elbow bumps and footshakes after clubs were told handshakes, high fives and hugs “must be avoided”. Boris Johnson may be tempted to punch the air in celebration, as the latest data suggests the worst of the winter Covid wave may finally be over. But the PM may have to curb his enthusiasm. Reports suggest some Tory backbenchers are discussing a mid-season change of manager.

Inside the bubble

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock on what to look out for today:

Transport secretary Grant Shapps will be out explaining the new ban on travellers from South America and Portugal over Brazilian variant concerns – and why Covid testing for international travellers to England has been delayed until Monday. Elsewhere, the Scottish Labour Party will start preparing for a leadership election after Richard Leonard’s surprise resignation.  

Daily briefing

WE WANT TO BREAK FREE: Boris Johnson may be able to hold off on any planned tightening of lockdown rules. Covid infections seems to be dipping at last, after the fourth day in a row that cases have been below 50,000. Rates have fallen in most regions of England, according to PHE’s weekly report, while Cambridge University experts put the UK’s R number at less than one. However, Johnson has been warned he could face a leadership challenge if he doesn’t lift restrictions asap. Steve Baker said many were “losing faith”, according to The Sun. In a note to fellow sceptics, Baker asked them to tell the chief whip “debate will become about the PM’s leadership” unless there’s “a clear plan for when our full freedoms will be restored”. It comes as Sadiq Khan expressed “huge concern” that London is lagging behind in vaccination – claiming only a tenth of jabs have been distributed in the capital despite the city making up 16 per cent of the population.

HASTE YE BACK: The PM and his ministers continue to talk about Brexit “teething problems”. But there is real alarm inside No 10 about how quickly those problems are mounting. Emergency measures are being planned at ports to prevent food shortages, according to a government document shared with the FT. Up to 300 lorries a day could be fast-tracked “to expedite” their journey to the EU and back. But that expedition may not be so speedy. France is now demanding hauliers have PCR tests which can take 72 hours to come up with a result – raising fears of December-esque chaos in Kent. It comes as a new study predicts British exports to the EU will plunge by more than one-third because of the Brexit trade deal. Total UK trade will nosedive by 13 per cent, said the London School of Economics. Michel Barnier was in a told-you-so mood, saying trade friction was an “obvious and inevitable” consequence of Brexit – and would be a permanent feature.

FEELING FIN-TASTIC: Seafood Scotland says the sector is “on its knees” after being hit by Brexit-induced export delays – warning that some companies have only “weeks” to survive without action from the government. But Jacob Rees-Mogg is having none of it. The Commons leader said our fish are “better and happier” at becoming fully “British” after Brexit. “The key is we’ve got our fish back – they’re now British fish!  And better and happier for it!” he exclaimed. Who cares about fishermen, when the fish are feeling the benefits of sovereignty? Keir Starmer called on the government to apologise to fishing communities, saying “they’ve been left high and dry”. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister Edwin Poots said the government must sort out red tape problems now to avert “a major crisis” in food supplies when the GB-NI grace period runs at the end of March. The Alliance party’s deputy leader Stephen Farry accused the DUP’s Poots of “scaremongering on steroids”.

HALF-TERM REMATCH: Marcus Rashford isn’t going to be taken in by a few reassuring words from Boris Johnson. Despite the PM’s phone-call pledge to conduct a review of school meals, the Man United star and several celebrity chefs have now written to No 10, urging Johnson to look into it properly and “reform the system for the longer term”. It comes as the government confirmed there will be no £15 vouchers for the February half-term break. Food will be provided by councils under the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, rather than through schools. Which sets up another battle for next month. Kevin Courtney, of National Education Union, said ministers should “hang their heads in shame” for threatening yet more “chaos and confusion” over provision for the poorest families. “These are battles which should not have to be repeatedly fought.” Speaking of never-ending battles, Richard Leonard has resigned as Scottish Labour leader, saying constant backbiting and speculation about his future had become a “distraction”.

LOCAL EXERCISE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE: No 10 has been forced to correct home secretary Priti Patel after she wrongly said people should do their local exercise alone under the lockdown rules. The PM’s official spokesman said the government had been “clear” that if people exercise “they can do so with one other person from another household”. Patel also suggested a “local” trip for exercise meant sticking to your own borough in her muddled interview on This Morning. But she also tried to defend the PM’s cross-borough bike ride. “London is a big geography in terms of cycling,” she told a confused Holly Willoughby. Meanwhile, government strategists have been knocking around some slogans to discourage takeaway coffee drinking. One draft advert being considered reads along the lines of “Grabbing a coffee can kill”, according to The Spectator. According to The Sun, another line being tested is: “Don’t let a coffee cost a life.”

I PITY THE POOR PRESIDENT: Donald Trump is said to have reverted to “self-pity mode” following the House vote to impeach him for a second time, and this has included turning on some of his closest allies. “Everybody’s angry at everyone” inside the White House, an adviser told CNN. Meanwhile Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney is facing calls to resign her party leadership role from Trump loyalists after her impassioned pleas to impeach. “I’m not going anywhere. This is a vote of conscience,” said Cheney. Other Republicans who voted against Trump said they are now facing threats of violence and have been forced to up their security. “Our expectation is that someone may try to kill us,” said Michigan Republican Peter Meijer. One new poll will make sober reading for them. Fewer than one in five Republicans believe Trump should be removed from office, according to the Ipsos Mori/ Axios survey.

On the record

“They are only teething problems – once people get used to using the paperwork goods will flow normally.”

Minister George Eustice suggests Brexit difficulties are a mere trifle.

From the Twitterati

“Imagine being in the DUP and going on the radio still spouting your nonsense about Brexit while it visibly blows your own face off.”

Ian Dunt on Ulster unionists’ alarm at supply problems…

“The DUP is now bluffing and spinning in a desperate attempt to stop Ulster unionist opinion realising it has enabled the breakup of the UK. It couldn’t resist the allure of the loons on the Tory and US right and now has a border in the Irish Sea to show for its gullibility.”

…while Nick Cohen says the DUP got duped.

Essential reading

Kim Sengupta, The Independent: Trump faces major trouble – whatever the final impeachment outcome

James Mills, The Independent: Labour’s economic plans are 2017 Corbynomics – with a twist

Gaby Hinsliff, The Guardian: The Tories fear Marcus Rashford has been the case for decent welfare

Anna Wiener, The New Yorker: Trump has been unplugged by big tech. Now what?

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