Rarely has an MP wrestled with a dilemma as acute as Boris Johnson’s younger brother. He is wisely and courageously putting the national interest above blind loyalty to the prime minister.
Jo Johnson tweeted this morning: “In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest – it’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister. Over and out.”
In time, this may be seen as the moment when Boris Johnson’s premiership fell apart. Shakespeare’s words about Brutus and Julius Caesar come to mind: “This was the most unkindest cut of all… Then burst his mighty heart.”
Although Jo’s resignation is a massive blow to his brother, this was not treachery. I have known both brothers for almost half a century. Boris is one of my oldest friends. I recruited Jo to the Financial Times 20 years ago.
As I said in an open letter to Boris in the Guardian just before he became prime minister: “True friendship, perhaps, is being loyal – and not joining in the attacks on your character I see everywhere today. But it’s not blind loyalty. It’s helping a friend achieve what’s really in their interests even if that’s not what they want.
“Is it really in your interest to crash out of the EU without a deal? … How will it help you if our proud nation is bullied in turns by America, China, Russia and the EU – and we have to suck up to Donald Trump because we’re so desperate and friendless?.. The only explanation I can give is that you have a tiger by the tail and can’t let go.”
In the last two months the tiger has dragged Boris deeper into the heart of darkness. The tiger also has a name: Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s ruthless advisor. He seems to be behind the extreme tactics of suspending Parliament and purging the Conservative Party of moderate MPs such as Philip Hammond and Nicholas Soames, one of Winston Churchill’s grandsons.
Does Cummings even have Boris’ deepest interests at heart? I doubt it. We know that Boris was never sure about Brexit. For the hardliners, he is a useful idiot. So long as he gets them their Brexit, it really doesn’t matter if he’s broken and tossed aside.
For all the talks that Cummings is a strategic genius, his extreme tactics aren’t even working. They have enraged moderate MPs – including, it seems, Jo. This can’t have been part of the masterplan.
On Rob Peston’s ITV show last night – after he had suffered three Commons defeats in two days – Boris looked deflated and lacking in conviction. After Jo’s resignation, it is hard to see where he goes.
Boris has vowed never to ask the EU for extra time. But Parliament is about to pass a law requiring him to do just that. And many Labour MPs realise it is better to force him to stew in his own juice rather than give him the escape hatch of an early election.
Unless Jeremy Corbyn makes a terrible strategic error, Boris will have three options – all deeply unpalatable: break the new law, be humiliated by complying with it or resign.
It’s hard to know what’s in his best interests now. Brutus fell on his sword. Jo has done that today. Perhaps Boris will also conclude that’s the only noble way out.