-
Boris Johnson sets up committee to focus on keeping UK together

No 10 seeks to tackle Scottish independence threat after loss of two heads of unit tasked with maintaining union
Boris Johnson has set up a cabinet committee to maintain his grip on keeping the UK union together, after two former heads of the No 10 unit devoted to the issue left the post within weeks of one another other.
Oliver Lewis, a key aide who was appointed to head the No 10 union unit, quit last week after just two weeks in the role. His predecessor, Luke Graham, was let go earlier this month.
The prime minister is now changing tack to head off the growing pressure from Scottish independence campaigners, with just months to go until the Holyrood elections that some senior Tories fear will result in Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP securing a convincing victory.
There is also deep frustration inside Downing Street at the perceived distraction the union unit’s leadership has become.
Government sources told the Guardian the question of whether anyone would succeed the two former heads was yet to be decided.
Johnson will next week chair the first meeting of the union strategy committee, which will also be attended by senior cabinet colleagues including the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, and the secretaries of state for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – as well as Lord Frost.
The committee will direct a union policy implementation committee so that the broad-brush decisions set from on-high can be turned into action across Whitehall and the territorial offices.
The committees are being modelled on the Brexit strategy and operations groups that directed internal government affairs in preparation for the UK to leave the EU.
In an attempt to boost the Conservatives’ polling performance, regular political meetings on the union will also now be held – bringing in senior figures from the party.
A No 10 source denied initial reports the unit was being scrapped and said it would continue to exist.
They added the union was one of Johnson’s top priorities and that lots of people from across Whitehall would remain working on keeping all four nations together.
The SNP quickly seized on the news and called it “utterly humiliating” for Johnson.
“The entire shambolic episode is the perfect analogy for the Tory government’s undemocratic anti-independence stance – crumbling under the first sign of any pressure,” said the party’s deputy leader in Westminster, Kirsten Oswald.
“The reality is that no amount of rebranding or merging can take away from the fact the Tories are in turmoil and their anti-independence campaign in disarray.”
source: Aubrey Allegretti
Levant
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!