Boris Johnson must present a new conservative vision for Britain or risk being expelled by the autumn, warned Lord Frost, his former Brexit minister.
Writing in The Telegraph, the Tory colleague called on the Prime Minister not to “ignore” the scale of discontent among his own deputies, as revealed in a vote of confidence in his leadership on Monday.
Lord Frost predicts that a new attempt to oust Johnson may follow the Conservative Conference in early October, unless he changes course.
He called for the tax increase to be repealed, VAT on energy bills to be reduced and the formulation of a “10-year conservative plan” to change Britain.
Coming from Johnson’s ally, albeit one who has criticized political decisions since leaving the cabinet in December, the statement will emphasize to Downing Street that the prime minister remains in political danger.
“Every prime minister has weaknesses and blind spots,” wrote Lord Frost.
“The question is whether they are able to compensate by having the right people, accepting good advice and setting a clear political direction with broad support.
“The prime minister probably has time from now until the party conference to show that he can do that.
Mr Johnson sought to reaffirm his political power over his party in a speech in Blackpool on Thursday, after surviving only after an attempt to oust him on Monday.
The prime minister has issued a new promise to cut taxes, saying the rising tax burden – projected to reach a 70-year high – is an “aberration” that needs to be reversed.
“You can’t spend your way out of inflation and you can’t spend your way to growth,” he said.
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