Laura Kuenssberg lifted the lid on Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister as she revealed for the first time that stage one of his ousting is already concluded. The BBC Political Editor however pointed out it may take “a very long time” before the completion of stage two, when a potential successor is identified, is coming to fruition. Ms Kuenssberg reported growing doubts among Tory files over Mr Johnson's tenure after a disastrous month where he came under increasing pressure.
Speaking to Newscast, Ms Kuenssberg said: “I think, to talk about something immediate, is a bit farfetched.
“But there are absolutely conversations about what life after Boris Johnson might look like.
“A very experienced MP said to me, ‘Look stage 1 of the leadership transition is where everybody agrees that the Prime Minister might be running out of the road is complete.’ “
“We’re at stage 2 where we talk about who, how, and when. But stage 2 often takes a very long time. “
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Ms Kuenssberg warned that the prospect of Boris Johnson being forced to resign imminently is unrealistic.
She also shed light on a further conversation with a second unnamed Tory MP who told her that it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the Prime Minister could still make amends for his shortcomings and prolong his tenure as PM.
The BBC editor continued: “So, there’s two different things that you listen to. The first half of that you go: ‘Oh my God. Imminent. Imminent!’
“Another senior MP said to me ‘Look, this is fixable. It can be fixed. And Boris Johnson has a chance to do this.’
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“But there is such intense pressure of him to sharpen up.”
In light of a video leak showing Number 10 staff seemingly mocking social distancing measures, Ms Kuennsberg confronted Mr Johnson as he announced Plan B restrictions.
She asked how he expected Britons to respect his latest rules if he himself failed to lead by example in the first place amid reports that a Christmas party was held in Downing Street a year ago when London was still under Tier 2 restrictions.
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Ms Kuenssberg erupted: “You’re tightening the rules again for millions of people tonight.
“How can you stand at that lectern exactly where some of your team laughed and joked about covid rules?
“And tell people they must now follow your new instructions.
“And are you really asking the public to believe that you had no idea what was going on under your own roof?"
The leak, and Mr Johnson's subsequent claim he was unaware of any party having taken place at Number 10, sparked widespread fury among both the public and his own MPs.