The UK government has been hurled into an awkward limbo by the prime minister resigning but staying on to lead a caretaker government.
In the papers this morning, doubts have been raised over whether Boris Johnson should continue as an interim prime minister until a successor is chosen sometime in September.
Johnson told his newly assembled cabinet – including Greg Clark as levelling up secretary – that he would not overshadow the contest to replace him by trying to push through “strange or radical new policies”, which he said would be for future party leaders.
The business community is worried that key rulings, legislation and reform will gather dust as Johnson vows to lead a caretaker government.
Labour said the government’s programme has been effectively frozen by the implosion of the past three days, when more than 50 ministers resigned over Johnson’s conduct. Dozens of junior ministerial positions remain unfilled and bills have not been scrutinised, Labour claimed.
Plans to reverse corporation tax rises and to bring forward a 1p cut in income tax to next year have been shelved. Johnson was also aiming to postpone an increase in corporation tax, which is due to rise in April from 19p to 25p. He was either going to defer the rise by a year or reduce the planned increase to 20p.
Eleven candidates have so far put themselves forward, but the backbench 1922 Committee is expected to limit the contest to prevent it turning into a “Grand National”.
The teams and allies of some prospective leaders have already started briefing against each other, with Sajid Javid’s people rubbishing Rishi Sunak’s track record as chancellor and Liz Truss being described as “mad, bad and unfit to be prime minister”.
The Times (£)
and The Times (£)
The Guardian
and The Guardian
