In this age of social media, it’s live by the tweet and die by the tweet. And when a Tory PM is in peril, such shenanigans take on an importance of semi-constitutional significance as ministers rush (or hesitate) to signal their allegiances. The most ominous sign for Boris Johnson yesterday was how quiet his Cabinet colleagues were after his dreadful PMQs battering.
The session concluded shortly after 12:30 p.m but it was nearly two-and-a-half hours before the first minister declared their support. The social media silence was in stark contrast to Barnard Castle 18 months ago when minister after minister threw themselves over the top to defend Dominic Cummings. Eventually, the Cabinet’s most ardent Boris-backer finally piped up, with Nadine Dorries finding the courage to declare: ‘PM was right to personally apologise earlier. People are hurt and angry at what happened and he has taken full responsibility for that.’ Cue an enraged social media pile-on.
That less than full-throated defence was about as good as it got for the embattled Johnson regime as ministers began to dutifully send their tweets.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in