19-09-2021, 02:42 PM
From The Sunday Times piece (paywalled) today on the cabinet re-shuffle:
Their political editor is usually pretty well-placed with regards to sources, but we know that things change pretty quick within Government. Interesting that this is being commented upon though (in a piece that was largely about the other appointments).
Quote:The removal of John Whittingdale, a keen advocate of the privatisation of Channel 4, as minister of state now calls that plan into question. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Boris just ditches that,” said someone who knows Johnson well. “It’s not that popular with the backbenchers, unlike bashing the BBC. I can see No 10 deciding that’s not a fight worth having.”
No 10 sources say the move does not signal an intention to change direction but it is understood that the public consultation has led to enough opposition to give Dorries the political cover to ditch it.
Their political editor is usually pretty well-placed with regards to sources, but we know that things change pretty quick within Government. Interesting that this is being commented upon though (in a piece that was largely about the other appointments).