Johnson’s reshuffle rumours won’t go away

When Boris Johnson was asked at this week’s Covid press conference whether he could rule out an imminent cabinet reshuffle, he didn’t give anything away. The Prime Minister joked that it was a question for the chief medical officer before avoiding offering an answer himself. While Johnson may take the view that the focus on a reshuffle was a distraction from his Covid winter plan announcement, it’s also the case that the constant rumours are starting to become a serious distraction for ministers, aides and civil servants. 

Given the decision to hold a reshuffle is down to one person, predicting the timings of any such shake-up is a fool’s game. But there is once again feverish speculation that a reshuffle could take place this week (as early as Wednesday) — with several ministers, MPs and aides working on this basis. Decisions relating to party conference are being put off, civil servants are proving more resistant while ministers are making an extra effort to be visible in a bid to avoid the chop. While