When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister (matron I need my meds!) I wrote that he would be mad not to bring in Guto Harri as his director of comms. And when Johnson really started to fuck up (matron pleeese !) I wrote that the only man that could save him was Harri. That he should go down on one knee and pay him his weight in diamonds. Yet I knew it just wouldn’t happen.
But now? I suspect Guto is thinking, ‘fuck it, it may be a total fiasco, but it will be a tantric thrill seeking, bare knuckled ride to oblivion. But fun to prop up the old boy. And there will be a book in it’. He knows it’s palliative care. He knows that he will give him that last bit of help to ease his pain before political death. But the craic! He may be the only person to advise Johnson to leave the stage. And with his contacts with Murdoch (he used to be a grand fromage in the News Corps) could lead the old goat to riches beyond his dreams.
I know. It sounds awful. But Johnson is awful. No matter what people will brief, the only senior aide in number 10 who really likes the guy and will treat him as a mate, who will tell him to fuck off and not be ridiculous, who won’t plot against him is Guto. Of course, it’s too late to save Johnson but he might just be able to snatch a little dignity for him when he departs ( matron, I can’t take any more!). The interview with Kuensberg was masterly. Jokey, self deprecating and cleverly tries to portray Johnson’s former appeal as the fellow to have a beer with to the masses. Oh, and redusting the photo op with Malcolm Tucker. Perfect. He’ll slag off Cummings and take Dorries and the rest of the clown car off air. It won’t work in the long term, but there will be a brief period of sunshine, rainbows and unicorns. Guto, no matter what people will say is a good guy and that’s why Downing Street insiders will hate him. But he won’t give a fuck.
But not as much as the seething loathing for young Barclay, now the most powerful man in cabinet. He is the gate keeper, the grandest of grand fromages. A minister, an MP and the Chief of Staff. Raab must be incandescent. And the civil servants? Oh dear. Sunak will be pretending not to grin from ear to ear. And Truss? Who cares?
But this evening there is a problem. Mobs jostling Starmer, taunting him, accusing him, vilifying him for not prosecuting Jimmy Savile. A wicked lie propagated by Johnson and supported by the likes of Kwasi Kwarteng. This may be the midwife to an early confidence vote. Harri warned that he should give a grovelling apology. Let’s see what happens at PMQs. But it may be way too late.