Senior Tory questions whether Lib Dems should remain ministers

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Yesterday Boris Johnson was under fire from Lib Dem ministers who encouraged him to get off “his backside” and negotiate with tube unions ahead of proposed strikes next month. A Tory minister is said to have apologised to Lib Dems for the “embarrassing” way that Boris has behaved.

Today the Tory London Assembly leader James Cleverly has launched a full-blooded attack on “ministerial posturing”, and questions whether or not the two ministers in question – Vince Cable and Ed Davey – should even remain ministers.

In a blogpost this morning, Cleverly accuses Cable and Davey of:

“an appalling lack of knowledge about leadership, management and history.”

He then goes on to say that:

“a huge question mark must hang over their continued role in government.”

Is Cleverly acting on behalf of Boris Johnson, London Tories or merely himself? Either way, such a senior Tory calling Lib Dem ministers’ jobs into question will be a cause for concern within the coalition, and will only heighten tensions between the mayor and central government ahead of the strikes.

It also won’t do Boris any favours next year, when he’ll need the backing of Lib Dems in the mayoral election.