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Jo Johnson appointed head of PM's policy unit Jo Johnson appointed head of PM's policy unit
(5 months later)
The Johnson dynasty has finally secured a toehold in Downing Street after Boris's younger brother was appointed as the new head of David Cameron's policy unit.The Johnson dynasty has finally secured a toehold in Downing Street after Boris's younger brother was appointed as the new head of David Cameron's policy unit.
Jo Johnson, one of the brightest members of the 2010 intake of Tory MPs, who accompanied the prime minister on his first overseas trade mission within two months of the last election, will run a team of special advisers and civil servants in No 10.Jo Johnson, one of the brightest members of the 2010 intake of Tory MPs, who accompanied the prime minister on his first overseas trade mission within two months of the last election, will run a team of special advisers and civil servants in No 10.
The appointment of the mayor of London's brother, who formally becomes a Cabinet Office minister, is one of a series of moves designed to strengthen the political operation in Downing Street and to patch up the prime minister's frayed links with the Conservative party. One senior figure described the moves as a deliberate attempt to create a more political – though not politicised – Downing Street in the mould of Margaret Thatcher's No 10 operation.The appointment of the mayor of London's brother, who formally becomes a Cabinet Office minister, is one of a series of moves designed to strengthen the political operation in Downing Street and to patch up the prime minister's frayed links with the Conservative party. One senior figure described the moves as a deliberate attempt to create a more political – though not politicised – Downing Street in the mould of Margaret Thatcher's No 10 operation.
The fresh approach involves the creation of a new Conservative policy board, consisting of a veteran and newcomers, to help the party draw up policies and to ensure that authentic Tory voices are better heard in the higher echelons of the party. Peter Lilley, 69, who served briefly in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet as trade and industry secretary and who was later identified by John Major as one of three Eurosceptic "bastards" in his cabinet, will join the board.The fresh approach involves the creation of a new Conservative policy board, consisting of a veteran and newcomers, to help the party draw up policies and to ensure that authentic Tory voices are better heard in the higher echelons of the party. Peter Lilley, 69, who served briefly in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet as trade and industry secretary and who was later identified by John Major as one of three Eurosceptic "bastards" in his cabinet, will join the board.
Other MPs on the board include the intellectual and Edmund Burke biographer Jesse Norman, who joked that he had been sent to Siberia after he led the Tory rebellion last summer against house of lords reform; George Eustice, Cameron's former press secretary who has been a constructive critic on Europe; Paul Uppal, who accompanied the prime minister on his recent visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar; the successful business woman Margot James; the modernising MP for Battersea Jane Ellison and the Lancashire MP Jake Berry. In a significant move, the prime minister also appointed Nick Gibb, whose sacking as schools minister in last September's reshuffle was widely seen in the party as an injustice.Other MPs on the board include the intellectual and Edmund Burke biographer Jesse Norman, who joked that he had been sent to Siberia after he led the Tory rebellion last summer against house of lords reform; George Eustice, Cameron's former press secretary who has been a constructive critic on Europe; Paul Uppal, who accompanied the prime minister on his recent visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar; the successful business woman Margot James; the modernising MP for Battersea Jane Ellison and the Lancashire MP Jake Berry. In a significant move, the prime minister also appointed Nick Gibb, whose sacking as schools minister in last September's reshuffle was widely seen in the party as an injustice.
The prime minister has also reached out to traditionalist MPs, many of whom regard him with great suspicion, by writing to every Tory MP who spoke in the commons after Thatcher's death. They were sent typed letters with handwritten notes.The prime minister has also reached out to traditionalist MPs, many of whom regard him with great suspicion, by writing to every Tory MP who spoke in the commons after Thatcher's death. They were sent typed letters with handwritten notes.
The appointment of Jo Johnson, 41, as the new head of the No 10 policy unit is designed to resolve a series of difficulties that have arisen since the election. The first problem arose when Cameron cut down on the number of special advisers, leaving No 10 cut off from much of the rest of Whitehall. The policy unit was bolstered 18 months later but was staffed mainly with civil servants who were unable to perform any political heavy lifting.The appointment of Jo Johnson, 41, as the new head of the No 10 policy unit is designed to resolve a series of difficulties that have arisen since the election. The first problem arose when Cameron cut down on the number of special advisers, leaving No 10 cut off from much of the rest of Whitehall. The policy unit was bolstered 18 months later but was staffed mainly with civil servants who were unable to perform any political heavy lifting.
One senior source said that appointing an MP to head up the policy unit was a deliberate throwback to the 1980s when Ferdinand Mount, the prime minister's cousin, headed the No 10 policy unit. "This is similar to the political set up under Margaret Thatcher," the source said.One senior source said that appointing an MP to head up the policy unit was a deliberate throwback to the 1980s when Ferdinand Mount, the prime minister's cousin, headed the No 10 policy unit. "This is similar to the political set up under Margaret Thatcher," the source said.
Johnson, who attended Eton after Cameron, has impressed Cameron since his election as Conservative MP for Orpington at the last election. A former Delhi bureau chief of the FT, he was asked by Cameron to accompany him on his first overseas trade mission to India in July 2010.Johnson, who attended Eton after Cameron, has impressed Cameron since his election as Conservative MP for Orpington at the last election. A former Delhi bureau chief of the FT, he was asked by Cameron to accompany him on his first overseas trade mission to India in July 2010.
The source said: "Jo is extremely bright. He has a strong grasp of policy and is very collegiate and inclusive."The source said: "Jo is extremely bright. He has a strong grasp of policy and is very collegiate and inclusive."
The appointment inevitably prompted speculation that the London mayor could find his prime ministerial ambitions surpassed by his equally bright, but less ostentatious, younger brother. The two brothers, who are seven years apart in age, both attended Eton and were both part of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford.The appointment inevitably prompted speculation that the London mayor could find his prime ministerial ambitions surpassed by his equally bright, but less ostentatious, younger brother. The two brothers, who are seven years apart in age, both attended Eton and were both part of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford.
The brothers studied at Balliol College Oxford. In Boris Johnson's view this places them a cut above Cameron who attended the less academically stretching Brasenose College. But Cameron and Jo Johnson both took firsts, unlike the London mayor who only managed an upper second, though this was in Greats (classics).The brothers studied at Balliol College Oxford. In Boris Johnson's view this places them a cut above Cameron who attended the less academically stretching Brasenose College. But Cameron and Jo Johnson both took firsts, unlike the London mayor who only managed an upper second, though this was in Greats (classics).
The appointments come amid a growing feeling among Tory MPs that the prime minister has finally managed to stabilise his position in the party after he and George Osborne were damaged by the "omnishambles" budget of last year.The appointments come amid a growing feeling among Tory MPs that the prime minister has finally managed to stabilise his position in the party after he and George Osborne were damaged by the "omnishambles" budget of last year.
The more polished budget of last month, with its distinctly Tory feel, and the prime minister's deft response to the death of Thatcher has put paid to speculation – for the moment at least – that Cameron could face a challenge if the Tories perform poorly in next week's local election. "David has stemmed the bleeding," one Tory said.The more polished budget of last month, with its distinctly Tory feel, and the prime minister's deft response to the death of Thatcher has put paid to speculation – for the moment at least – that Cameron could face a challenge if the Tories perform poorly in next week's local election. "David has stemmed the bleeding," one Tory said.
The famously competitive Boris Johnson will take a relaxed approach to the elevation of his younger brother. He will probably put down the new sharper edge in No 10 to the appointment of the Australian election strategist Lynton Crosby, who masterminded his two mayoral campaigns, to run the 2015 general election campaign for the Tories.The famously competitive Boris Johnson will take a relaxed approach to the elevation of his younger brother. He will probably put down the new sharper edge in No 10 to the appointment of the Australian election strategist Lynton Crosby, who masterminded his two mayoral campaigns, to run the 2015 general election campaign for the Tories.
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