Is Boris weaponising reshuffle rumours?

Parliament is back today and the Prime Minister is facing an autumn filled with problems. Boris Johnson had hoped to use the last week before the summer recess to reset his premiership by announcing reforms to social care, more money for the NHS and potentially reshuffling his top team. Instead, he found himself in self-isolation after coming into contact with Sajid Javid, who had tested positive for Covid. Now there are plans afoot to use the first week back to return to unfinished business.

Once again there are rumours of a reshuffle — while Johnson is expected to finally unveil his social care plans on Tuesday. They too are not without problems. Johnson’s plan to hike National Insurance in order to provide funding for the NHS backlog and social care has been met with opposition from his cabinet and MPs alike. Several Tory MPs — and Tory grandees — have gone public with their criticism complaining that it will exacerbate intergenerational unfairness and serve to help those who are asset rich, thereby going against the 2019 election ‘levelling up’ pledge to win over voters in the red wall.