I just posted this thread on Twitter:<\/p>\n
If there is one thing Boris Johnson is good at it is getting what he wants, without concern for the consequence. He made clear yesterday that he wants to remain as prime minister. Is he plotting to do so? A thread\u2026.<\/p>\n
That Johnson is contemptuous of those who have forced him to resign as Tory leader (but not prime minister) was apparent yesterday in his resignation speech and in his appointment of a new cabinet. The speech was all about a manifesto. So what is he doing?<\/p>\n
I think Johnson has a plan. It is based on his own belief, backed up by some around him and the Mail, Telegraph and Express, that he is the only possible prime minister for this country. In his thinking some of unsound mine have simply suffered a slight blip of doubt about this.<\/p>\n
His belief is backed up by the idea that every Tory leadership challenger is as talentless as him, and at least as lacking in any relationship with reality as him. Look at them, and for once it is apparent that he has perceived a truth.<\/p>\n
So, what Johnson will do is let the leadership race begin, and wait for it to become bitter, chaotic, and frankly nasty as the rats fight it out with each other, as they will.<\/p>\n
When that becomes more widely apparent he will make his move. As remaining prime minister he will tell Tory MPs that they do, of course, have another option, which is to continue with him. They need only end their silly party leadership election and they can have him back.<\/p>\n
Will they fall for that? I rather share Johnson\u2019s view that they are stupid enough to fall for anything right now. They might, just.<\/p>\n
Then what? If Johnson comes back we get full throttle fascism. And you can be sure that the leading opponents - from Sunak and Javid onwards - will be culled from the party, which he had done before.<\/p>\n
I am aware this might seem for fetched. But then most things Johnson has done are ridiculous, and he has got away with too many of them. Don\u2019t rule it out in other words. If such a plan can be thought up it could be on his agenda. I can\u2019t see why it isn\u2019t, to be candid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"