Boris Johnson tried to shore up his leadership this by setting out a raft of new policies to cabinet ministers following last night’s confidence vote that revealed the scale of the threat to his position.
Johnson thanked cabinet ministers for their support as he urged them to push through reforms to lower costs for consumers, businesses and government.
“We’re able now to draw a line under the issues that our opponents want to talk about, and we’re able to get on with talking about what I think the people in this country want us to,” Johnson told his cabinet in televised remarks.
No 10 said he would use the cabinet meeting to set out his vision for the coming weeks, including new policies to reduce the cost of childcare and to help more people buy their own homes.
The prime minister plans a speech on housing this week, he will make a speech on the economy next week and the government plans to send a first group of asylum seekers to Rwanda on June 14, as he seeks to move on from the divisive confidence vote, a Conservative party source said.
However former leader Lord (William Hague) said that Johnson’s premiership is no longer “viable” and he should “turn his mind to getting out” to provide a fresh start for the party.
Talking later on Times Radio he said Boris Johnson carrying on is like “driving on a motorway with two flat tires. You can say you’re at the steering wheel, but you’re not going to get to the end of the journey”.
