BORIS Johnson enemies are preparing a brutal weekend of “deeply unpleasant” personal attacks on wife Carrie in a bid to bring him down.
As the Prime Minister struggles to get a grip on Downing Street turmoil a slew of negative stories were being circulated by his political foes.
Last night a Tory source said: “Carrie has for some time been the target of an increasingly brutal briefing campaign to attack and discredit her. It is deeply unpleasant.”
It comes amid reports Mr Johnson enemies are preparing a brutal weekend of “deeply unpleasant” personal attacks on wife Carrie in a bid to bring him down.
As the Prime Minister struggles to get a grip on Downing Street turmoil a slew of negative stories were being circulated by his political foes.
Last night a Tory source said: “Carrie has for some time been the target of an increasingly brutal briefing campaign to attack and discredit her. It is deeply unpleasant.”
Mr Johnson’s allies are livid the PM’s is being targeted when she cannot speak out herself, with one minister accusing critics of playing “the wife not the ball.”
One supportive MP said: “attacking the PM is fair enough, but going for his family is a new low.”
Yesterday a fifth No10 aide quit – boxer Elena Narozanski – as the PM attempted to overhaul his faltering political machine in the wake of the party gate scandal.
Her departure followed an unprecedented clear out of Mr Johnson’s inner circle – some forced out but others quitting in fury at the direction of travel.
In a pep talk to remaining staff on Friday afternoon the PM quoted the Lion King in a bold attempt to brush off his troubles after a torrid week.
The defiant PM said it was time to “put the gum shield back in and get back on the pitch” to crack on with running the country.
And explaining the overhaul of his team, he said: “As Rafiki in the Lion King says, change is good, and change is necessary even though it’s tough.”
Ministers and MPs claimed the series of shock resignations was part of a planned shake-up of the top of Government.
And the PM tried to get back on the front foot with an olive-branch letter to his backbenchers – promising them a “direct line” into No10 and more of a say on Government policy.
In a letter to all Tory MPs as he attempts to shore up his support, he wrote vowing to “provide whatever engagement and support is necessary to make this a success.
He stressed: “I am committed to improving the way 10 Downing Street, and Government more broadly, works. That process is now under way.
“I promised change, and that is what we will now deliver together.” Last night another Tory MP announced they had put a letter of no confidence in – joining 13 others who have publicly called on him to go.
Red Waller Aaron Bell hit out in a scathing statement: “The breach of trust that events in No 10 Downing Street represent, and the manner in which they have been handled, makes his position untenable.”
Meanwhile there are reports Police and Sue Gray have been handed pictures of the PM holding a beer in one of the alleged lockdown-busting bashes.
The Prime Minister was said to have been snapped holding a can of Estrella by one of his official photographers at his June 2020 lockdown cake gathering in the cabinet office, the Daily Mirror said.
He was photographed standing next to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who was holding a soft drink.
Earlier this week Mr Bell asked the PM if he’d been a “fool” to not hug his family at his grandmother’s funeral, as he was sticking to Covid rules to a tee.
More are thought to have privately submitted them behind closed doors, with only 1922 boss Cir Graham Brady knowing the true number.
Backbencher Tory MP Huw Merriman fired a warning shot too – saying the PM should “shape up or ship out”.
Meanwhile, Sajid Javid became the second Cabinet minister in 48 hours to distance himself from the PM’s controversial comments about Jimmy Saville.
The Health Secretary said the Labour boss “did a good job” as Director of Public Prosecutions “and he should be respected for it”.
But he insisted the PM had “clarified his comments and “of course” he had his full support.
It comes after the Chancellor admitted he “wouldn’t have said” the explosive claims that the former Labour boss had spent more time trying to lock up journalists, and failing to prosecute the child sex offender.
But Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove insisted: “The PM has made his own decisions here, the matter is now closed.” Downing Street was last night forced to deny the PM has lost control of Downing Street after the string of resignations.
And the PM’s spokesman said he was “not currently” expecting another onslaught of people quitting.
Energy minister Greg Hands said the Prime Minister was “taking charge” after promising sweeping changes in No 10 in response to Whitehall official Sue Gray’s findings into lockdown breaking in Downing Street.
“The Prime Minister was absolutely clear on Monday that there would be changes at the top of No 10 and that is what he has delivered,” he told Sky News.
“The Sue Gray report update said that there were failings at the top of the operation. This is the Prime Minister taking charge.”
