THE Prime Minister is among several top Tory figures to be savaged in a new memoir from a former MP.
Sir Alan Duncan, who stepped down at the 2019 election, was Boris Johnson’s deputy during his time at the Foreign Office.
In his new book of diaries, The Thick Of It, Duncan slams Johnson as a “clown” and an “embarrassing buffoon”.
The Daily Mail is currently serialising the diaries, starting today with the criticism of the Tory leader.
Duncan claims he rowed with Johnson over a report on how diplomats treat him as an “international joke”.
READ MORE: Henry McLeish: Boris Johnson’s war on devolution crystal clear
Johnson is said to have asked: “Why don’t they take me seriously?”. In response, Duncan says he told the then foreign secretary to “look in the f****** mirror”.
Duncan writes that the Prime Minister knew nothing about Brexit and it was his “blatant self-serving ambition” that led him to the Leave camp.
A 2016 book on the EU referendum, written by Tim Shipman of the Sunday Times, said Johnson had written a newspaper column praising the bloc just two days before he revealed he would campaign to Leave.
He wrote that Brexit could cause economic shock, lead to Scottish independence and Russian aggression, Shipman said.
In Duncan’s diaries, Priti Patel (above) is also described as a “nothing person, a complete and utter nightmare”, while Theresa May was called a “frightened rabbit, a cardboard cut-out”.
Michael Gove, who has held a range of senior positions but is currently Cabinet Office minister, is also slammed as a “whacky weirdo”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel