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Boris Johnson's brother Jo is a serious contender Boris Johnson's brother Jo is a serious contender
(5 months later)
Johnson family get-togethers are not for the faint-hearted. Boris, the first-born, and his father Stanley have long since turned them into a super-competitive blood sport; two alpha males metaphorically clashing horns over the dinner table for dominance of the herd. Jo, the youngest brother, learned from his earliest years to keep quiet and watch Boris earn his rightful place as top stag. And yet in a delicious irony, it is Jo, seven years Boris's junior, who is now grandly ensconced in Downing Street rather than the London mayor still languishing in City Hall.Johnson family get-togethers are not for the faint-hearted. Boris, the first-born, and his father Stanley have long since turned them into a super-competitive blood sport; two alpha males metaphorically clashing horns over the dinner table for dominance of the herd. Jo, the youngest brother, learned from his earliest years to keep quiet and watch Boris earn his rightful place as top stag. And yet in a delicious irony, it is Jo, seven years Boris's junior, who is now grandly ensconced in Downing Street rather than the London mayor still languishing in City Hall.
The prime minister has appointed Jo as his new No 10 head of policy charged with finding new ideas to invigorate the government, specifically the blue part. Whether David Cameron is wise to appoint yet another Old Etonian, Bullingdon Club member to come up with wheezes designed to reconnect the Tory leadership with the rest of us is another matter (Jo's advisory panel has yet another OE on it, Jesse Norman, just in case the Berkshire school felt in some way under-represented).The prime minister has appointed Jo as his new No 10 head of policy charged with finding new ideas to invigorate the government, specifically the blue part. Whether David Cameron is wise to appoint yet another Old Etonian, Bullingdon Club member to come up with wheezes designed to reconnect the Tory leadership with the rest of us is another matter (Jo's advisory panel has yet another OE on it, Jesse Norman, just in case the Berkshire school felt in some way under-represented).
We're told that Cameron wanted to create a highly political Thatcher-style policy unit to provide intellectual grit and better communication. If so, he has made an interesting choice. Jo, a former Financial Times journalist who is married to the Guardian writer Amelia Gentleman, knows quite a lot about India from his time as a foreign correspondent, is arguably as near as the Tories get to a Europhile these days, and has more recently been quietly serving in the whips' office after entering parliament just three years ago. He has made a rapid rise through the parliamentary ranks but is still barely known outside Westminster and is not known inside for any particular creed. Was the high-profile appointment, as some believe, the prime minister allowing himself some pleasure in dishing it out to Boris for a change rather than taking it?We're told that Cameron wanted to create a highly political Thatcher-style policy unit to provide intellectual grit and better communication. If so, he has made an interesting choice. Jo, a former Financial Times journalist who is married to the Guardian writer Amelia Gentleman, knows quite a lot about India from his time as a foreign correspondent, is arguably as near as the Tories get to a Europhile these days, and has more recently been quietly serving in the whips' office after entering parliament just three years ago. He has made a rapid rise through the parliamentary ranks but is still barely known outside Westminster and is not known inside for any particular creed. Was the high-profile appointment, as some believe, the prime minister allowing himself some pleasure in dishing it out to Boris for a change rather than taking it?
Boris has made the expected jokes about his brother's new position in Downing Street, but this is not the first time Jo has upset the natural fraternal order of things. And Boris does not like to be bested. Jo secured a first from Oxford, an achievement so painful to the 2:1-scoring Boris that sister Rachel hesitated before breaking to him the "terrible news".Boris has made the expected jokes about his brother's new position in Downing Street, but this is not the first time Jo has upset the natural fraternal order of things. And Boris does not like to be bested. Jo secured a first from Oxford, an achievement so painful to the 2:1-scoring Boris that sister Rachel hesitated before breaking to him the "terrible news".
For now, of course, Jo is a mere Cabinet Office minister but the move has excited many with the thought of him becoming his brother's most deadly rival in a future leadership contest. As all Johnsons, he undoubtedly has the ambition and the drive. But before we start booking seats for the Miliband saga mark two, it is worth considering whether Jo is really a contender.For now, of course, Jo is a mere Cabinet Office minister but the move has excited many with the thought of him becoming his brother's most deadly rival in a future leadership contest. As all Johnsons, he undoubtedly has the ambition and the drive. But before we start booking seats for the Miliband saga mark two, it is worth considering whether Jo is really a contender.
Unlike his brother, he does "serious" very well, some say too well. One MP told me that Jo goes to such obsessive lengths to differentiate himself from his brother he is in danger of becoming a rather dull boy. He likes the policy bit of politics rather more than the showbusiness, and there is no fodder for gossip in his personal life.Unlike his brother, he does "serious" very well, some say too well. One MP told me that Jo goes to such obsessive lengths to differentiate himself from his brother he is in danger of becoming a rather dull boy. He likes the policy bit of politics rather more than the showbusiness, and there is no fodder for gossip in his personal life.
He has a reputation for being something of a loner – often choosing to eat lunch alone in the canteen – and one former colleague described him as "a space cadet, he finds it difficult to emphathise with people not as bright or focused as him". Indeed, brushing up on his people skills may become a priority as although many say he is "nicer" than Boris, he has been criticised for his at times "peremptory" tone. He does not share Boris's genius for PR or his desire to be universally loved.He has a reputation for being something of a loner – often choosing to eat lunch alone in the canteen – and one former colleague described him as "a space cadet, he finds it difficult to emphathise with people not as bright or focused as him". Indeed, brushing up on his people skills may become a priority as although many say he is "nicer" than Boris, he has been criticised for his at times "peremptory" tone. He does not share Boris's genius for PR or his desire to be universally loved.
And yet, there is something about Jo that has seen him achieve far more in Westminster in three years than Boris did in seven. His appointment was welcomed by MPs on the right of the party, even though his natural instincts probably lie elsewhere. He may not yet have captured the voters' attention but he has certainly made his mark and, unlike his big brother, is widely trusted within the party as a loyalist. And being seven years younger than Boris, time is also on his side. As David Miliband might say: Boris, you'd better watch out!And yet, there is something about Jo that has seen him achieve far more in Westminster in three years than Boris did in seven. His appointment was welcomed by MPs on the right of the party, even though his natural instincts probably lie elsewhere. He may not yet have captured the voters' attention but he has certainly made his mark and, unlike his big brother, is widely trusted within the party as a loyalist. And being seven years younger than Boris, time is also on his side. As David Miliband might say: Boris, you'd better watch out!
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