Damian Green’s rejection is a sign of things to come

Much has been written about Damian Green’s failure on Saturday to be selected for the new Weald of Kent seat. It was swiftly hailed as the ‘grassroots revenge’ of pro-Boris forces within the party. Theresa May’s onetime deputy was described as a ‘prominent anti-Boris activist’ responsible for forcing him ‘out of Downing Street’ last July.

The newly-formed Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) was quick to trumpet the result. Its chairman David Campbell-Bannerman said that ‘Those who turned on Boris Johnson are being punished – this deselection is hard evidence of this being real.’ Party chair Greg Hands tweeted his ‘full support’ of Green, declaring that ‘we stand behind our MPs.’ The result came a fortnight after Sally Ann-Hart failed to get reselected in Hastings.

The selection drama is a sign of things to come – though not for the reasons you might think. There is a clear attempt by some of Boris Johnson’s supporters to create a narrative of betrayal.