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Exc: Boris Johnson to launch new ‘union task force’ to make the social and culture case for the United Kingdom after a series of gaffes and missteps.No10 Union task force, launching in weeks, will include Tory MPs from England, Scotland and Wales. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
Government insiders confirmed the union task force will seek to make the emotional case for the UK in England as well as Scotland.
No10 acutely aware the argument has to go beyond the economic case that the union is better for all involved. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
No10 acutely aware the argument has to go beyond the economic case that the union is better for all involved. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
As part of the pro-union drive, some of No 10’s new televised press briefings - set to begin in the new year under the auspices of press secretary Allegra Stratton - will be broadcast from the devolved nations. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
One senior Scottish Tory on what Johnson needs to do:
“We have to make sure the union is at the heart of everything we do, every policy needs to have a Union Jack emblazoned on it.” https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
“We have to make sure the union is at the heart of everything we do, every policy needs to have a Union Jack emblazoned on it.” https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
No10 insiders say the departure of Dominic Cummings will lead to a greater focus on the union from the PM.
“He never cared about the union. Tonally he’s an English nationalist,” said one well-placed Tory of Cummings. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
“He never cared about the union. Tonally he’s an English nationalist,” said one well-placed Tory of Cummings. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
Johnson’s latest efforts to save the union came as he told Tory MPs devolution was a “disaster”.
Asked by text message about the PM's comments, one Conservative member of the Scottish parliament responded with a gritted teeth emoji. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
Asked by text message about the PM's comments, one Conservative member of the Scottish parliament responded with a gritted teeth emoji. https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
Andy Maciver, a former head of communications for the Scottish Tories, says the comments were met with “disbelief and rage”:
"If you were a nationalist, you could not write a better strategy than what is being delivered by unionists right now." https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
"If you were a nationalist, you could not write a better strategy than what is being delivered by unionists right now." https://www.ft.com/content/4ed31be4-f5c9-4629-a660-579332b7af7c
