A new book by Sir Conor Burns, a close aide to Boris Johnson, has unveiled the former prime minister's profound contempt for Theresa May, likening her to a 'giant yucca tree under whose shade everything dies'. The revelation comes as part of a broader exposé of internal Conservative Party animosity.
Johnson's Views on May
According to Burns, Johnson questioned May's public appeal ahead of the 2017 snap election and believed her leadership stifled growth within the party. Burns claims that May's decision to appoint Johnson as Foreign Secretary was a strategic move intended to 'shaft' him. He further describes May herself as a 'stunningly stupid blank canvas', highlighting the deep-seated hostility between the two figures.
Internal Party Divisions
The book details significant internal divisions within the Conservative Party, particularly the mutual hatred between Johnson's and Michael Gove's camps. Burns also recounts Johnson's near-sacking of Liz Truss, whom he described as 'constantly on manoeuvres'. Other prominent Tories, including Matt Hancock, David Cameron, George Osborne, and Johnny Mercer, receive critical portraits.
Burns suggests that Johnson 'lacked the gumption' to push through Brexit without Dominic Cummings, despite their relationship later turning 'cancerous'. He also criticises Johnson's 'flawed' appointments, such as Sir Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary.
The book paints a picture of a party rife with internal strife, where personal vendettas and strategic betrayals were commonplace. Burns's revelations offer a behind-the-scenes look at the tumultuous relationships that shaped recent British political history.
