The latest cabinet sackings and appointments reveal the prime minister’s lack of courage and leadership, writes John Robinson, while John Cookson says they are merely part of a plan for an early election. Plus letters from Dave Pollard, Mick Beeby and David Redshaw
Boris Johnson has long yearned to be the modern-day Winston Churchill, famed for his oratory and leadership just as his hero was during and after the second world war. But leadership takes both courage and conviction, as well as the ability to do what is necessary, regardless of personal cost. We haven’t seen anything like that during Johnson’s premiership to date – this reshuffle has been perhaps his last chance to show that he can be a leader of sorts (Boris Johnson lays groundwork for general election with ruthless reshuffle, 15 September).
Sacking Gavin Williamson required no courage. Failing to sack Priti Patel showed an inability to do what was necessary, given her failure to deal with the UK border issues and her serial breaking of the ministerial code. The shambolic evacuation of Afghanistan, managed by the then foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, merited only a demotion, one mitigated by the gift of those two grandiose titles – lord chancellor and deputy prime minister. Hardly an indicator of prime ministerial conviction.