As the race to replace Theresa May heats up, Operation Stop Boris is now in full swing. Boris Johnson remains the clear frontrunner to win the Tory leadership contest and his critics are determined to prevent him doing so at any cost. But his detractors should learn an important lesson from the referendum campaign: going after Boris is bound to backfire.
Boris’s critics are determined to have another go, with his Tory rivals queuing up to take a pop. Matt Hancock is the latest to hit out with his jibe ‘f**k ‘f**k business’, a reference to Boris’s comments about lobbyists warning of the damage of a no-deal Brexit. Jeremy Hunt has also targeted Boris. So, too, has roaming leadership candidate Rory Stewart.
Even the dwindling number of Tory MPs not entering the fray to become prime minister are also after Boris. Philip Hammond has criticised Boris repeatedly. So has David Gauke, who said candidates who don’t acknowledge the ‘enormously harmful’ effects of a no-deal Brexit will fuel populism.
The news that Boris has been ordered to appear in court over claims he lied by saying Britain gives the EU £350m a week is a sign that it isn’t only his critics on the Tory benches that Boris must watch out for.
Boris’s enemies are naturally delighted at this onslaught and seem convinced this is the strategy for bringing down Boris.
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