Conservative MP Johnny Mercer says the Government 'smells of decline'
3 min read
Tory MP Johnny Mercer has launched a full-blooded attack on Theresa May's government, saying it "smells of decline".
The backbencher, who was first elected for Plymouth Moor View in 2015, said the Conservatives still seem "punch drunk" from June's disastrous election performance.
He also said the way some in his party had reacted to the recent uproar over both Priti Patel and Boris Johnson had been "depressing".
Mr Mercer spoke out after a tumultuous fortnight that has seen Michael Fallon and Ms Patel both leave the Cabinet, and ministers Damian Green and Mark Garnier facing Cabinet Office investigations into their conduct.
And he appeared to accuse Theresa May of prioritising "famous names" over the most able MPs when drawing up her Cabinet.
While he insisted he was behind the Prime Minister, the former soldier said he was a "patriot" who wanted to steer the Government in the right direction.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Mercer delivered a damning verdict of the Government's performance.
“It smells of decline, and the people won’t have it” he said.
"There becomes a cross-over point in seats like mine, it becomes about your personal integrity, about your credibility. You have to step back and question what your party is doing - of course. Yes we are beginning to get there I fear"
Issuing a rallying cry to his parliamentary colleagues, he said: “We are in critical times. Brexit is a huge challenge, but can be a great success if we get it right.
"But the Conservative Party still seems punch-drunk after the election, bemused by ongoing sagas in the Cabinet.”
But he questioned the way the Prime Minister had chosen her top team, suggesting she had not embraced newer MPs.
“We have a duty to the nation to ensure the Cabinet is comprised of the best people in parliament, not the most famous names. Theresa May had to make a decision where she formed her cabinet: whether to select members to manage the fall-out from Brexit or select the best modernisers to bring about social change," Mr Mercer said.
"She chose the former - I understand that, but now is the time for bold, outward facing leadership in my view.”
He specifically criticised the decision to appoint former chief whip Gavin Williamson as Defence Secretary, saying "it seems to have sent a message to the military community...about how my party thinks about Defence, that I am not 100% comfortable with".
Questions were raised about Mr Williamson's appointment, given he has no experience of running a Whitehall department or any particular interest in military matters.
'PESTMINSTER'
He also criticised MPs who had sought to play down the recent allegations of sexual harassment against parliamentarians and officials from different political parties.
“I don’t really understand the attempts to normalise some of the behaviour of my colleagues. That in itself has led to this crisis.
“Normalising frankly weird and creepy behaviour towards others is the beginning of buying into this myth that we are ‘more special’, entitled if you like, that normal rules don’t apply to us because we have power. It’s b******s.
"It’s why people don’t vote or engage with politics – because a minority in Westminster seem to think it’s a game or entitlement, unthreatened in safe seats.”
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