Marks out of 10? Boris Johnson and Cabinet’s first year report – Tom Richmond

“A DISGRACEFULLY cavalier attitude”. “A question of priorities”. “Gross failure of responsibility”.
Boris Johnson became Prime Minister a year ago - how should he, and the Cabinet, be judged?Boris Johnson became Prime Minister a year ago - how should he, and the Cabinet, be judged?
Boris Johnson became Prime Minister a year ago - how should he, and the Cabinet, be judged?

Phrases from Boris Johnson’s school report in 1982 when at Eton, they could also summarise his premiership.

Yet, one year after becoming PM, how should the current Class of Downing Street School be judged and marked?

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Boris Johnson (Prime Minister). The ‘Headmaster’ has shown personal resilience after struck down with Covid-19 and is mindful of the personal tragedies suffered by so many.

Boris Johnson on the steps of 10 Downing Street this week.Boris Johnson on the steps of 10 Downing Street this week.
Boris Johnson on the steps of 10 Downing Street this week.

He is leading Britain out of the European Union, as he promised, but he has a reputation for being economical with the truth and his alliance with Dominic Cummings gives cause for concern.

He will be defined by the UK’s recovery from Covid-19 and needs a clearer grasp of detail – his tendency to ‘blame others’, or bluster, is unbecoming of a supposed statesman. 6/10.

Dominic Raab (Foreign Secretary). Quietly assiduous, the ‘Deputy Head’ stepped up as a ‘team player’ when the ‘Headmaster’ was indisposed.

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He will need to show much more guile 
if he wants to make his mark as a 
global diplomat when the threats posed by Russia and China are so malevolent. 7/10.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons - how should they be judged?Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons - how should they be judged?
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons - how should they be judged?

Rishi Sunak (Chancellor). Top of the class after becoming ‘Bursar’ in February – and providing inspired leadership following the outbreak of Covid-19 when others faltered.

However his propensity for borrowing, understandable in the circumstances when interest rates are so low, masks wider concerns about future indebtedness, but there’s every reason he will rise to the challenge. 9/10.

Priti Patel (Home Secretary). Lucky to be the Cabinet’s ‘Head Girl’, a disrespect for staff – there have been many complaints – have overshadowed her efforts to recruit more police and become a law and order enforcer. 4/10.

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Grant Shapps (Transport Secretary). He continues to excel – anyone, let’s face it, is an improvement on Chris Grayling, the previous Transport Officer.

He took one for the team when the School Secretary (D Cummings) went AWOL in Barnard Castle and even spotted an opportunity to improve road links (A66) to the County Durham town. Must stay fully focused on the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ aspect of his brief. 7.5/10.

Matt Hancock (Health and Social Care Secretary). The ‘Chief Orderly’ struggles under pressure, despite taking on the responsibility of Covid-19 with alacrity, and looks to be in need of a long rest.

Not as capable as he contends, he does not accept criticism well and has totally overlooked the ‘social care’ aspect of his role, despite the ‘Headmaster’ stating a year ago that this was a priority. 4.5/10.

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Gavin Williamson (Education Secretary). The ‘School Prefect’ does not have a clear grasp of detail and invariably becomes very muddled on any matter relating to numeracy or budgets. Forward planning – i.e. reopening schools after the lockdown – is another glaring weakness. ‘Must do better’ is being kind. 3/10.

Jacob Rees-Mogg (Leader of the Commons). He needs to stop ‘lounging’ about on the green benches – we thought the ‘Caretaker’ had better manners – and stop taking short cuts over Downing Street’s relationship with Parliament.

He’s lucky to be here after his role in the prorogation of Parliament last September over Brexit which was proven to be unlawful and caused such embarrassment to the ‘Headmaster’. Still fond of Latin. 2/10 (or II / X).

Liz Truss (International Trade Secretary). The ‘Overseas Alumni Officer’ is now on borrowed time after her Trade Bill betrayed UK farmers. 3/10.

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Robert Jenrick (Communities Secretary). He has lost all confidence – and credibility – as ‘Estates Manager’ following a ‘cash for favours’ row with a leading donor and fails to come up to the required level of competence and integrity. 1/10.

Notable mentions go to Ben Wallace (Defence Secretary) and Michael Gove (Cabinet Office) for avoiding controversy. Others are still to make their mark – that’s you Alok Sharma (Business Secretary) and George Eustice (Environment Secretary) – while Dr Thérèse Coffey (Work and Pensions Secretary) scored an own goal over free school meals.

This is symptomatic of the ‘Headmaster’ being let down by his assistants on too many occasions. A culture of complacency, and arrogance, some discernible – some might call this “a cavalier attitude” and “gross failure of responsibility”. Others detect the malingering existence of Graylingitis, a contagious and catastrophic curse.

Future success can not be taken
for granted – it’s sad to note a need for greater honesty and humility in the Head’s end-of-term report – but he can make some amends by recognising that ‘levelling up’ refers to enhancing opportunities for all rather than the environs of his alma mater Eton or Downing Street. That is next term’s test.

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