Sajid Javid’s sudden cabinet departure electrified what had initially been billed as Boris Johnson’s modest reshuffle, bringing out references to bloodbaths, knifings, warning shots and power grabs on the front pages.
Deploying the magic of photoshop, the Mirror portrays No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings as the puppet master, saying he ordered a “brutal cabinet cull”. It says the government is now “filled with spineless stooges”. It is not the only newspaper to go with the headline: “Bloodbath”.
Tomorrow's Mirror front page: Bloodbath - savage Tory reshuffle #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/BmSehjDAi7 pic.twitter.com/79y5jq4wgd
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 13, 2020
The Guardian says “Brutal Johnson tightens grip as Javid forced out” and notes the influence of Cummings, the rapid rise of loyalist replacement Rishi Sunak and the departures of Andrea Leadsom, Geoffrey Cox and Julian Smith.
Guardian front page, Friday 14 February 2020: Brutal Johnson tightens grip as Javid forced out pic.twitter.com/eyyrWI1nJ4
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 13, 2020
The Telegraph carries an air of celebration, saying the PM has “brought the Treasury to heel” and seized control in the biggest power grab of modern times. It reports: “The move follows years of frustration among senior Brexiteers who believe that the Treasury was seeking to thwart Britain’s exit from the EU.” The hope now is that budget will “cut taxes and boost enterprise in the wake of Brexit”, it says.
Cartoonist Matt takes a jab at Cummings in his Valentine’s Day offering.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 13, 2020
'Johnson brings Treasury to heel'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/1rlQQk6dgN
The Daily Mail goes hyperbolic with not one but two bloodbaths: a report on Harry and Meghan axing their UK staff, as well as Johnson’s “brutal power grab”. Its treatment focuses on Javid’s response, saying “no self-respecting minister” could stay on the terms put to him by the PM (namely, to fire all your advisers). “Sajid fury over PM knifing” is the headline.
Friday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/mLfhxHeBvf
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 13, 2020
The Times also gives prominence to Javid’s concerns about the credibility of the Treasury and the integrity of the PM’s inner circle. The headline is “Javid fires warning shot at Johnson”. It says Sunak, his replacement, is already being pressured by No 10 to ditch Javid’s spending commitments in next month’s budget. It says the pound rose on expectations of a “giveaway budget”.
THE TIMES: @sajidjavid fires warning shot as @BorisJohnson #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/mES5pNS5Hb
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 13, 2020
Metro riffs off Javid’s family history in public transport with the simple headline: “Thrown under the bus”. Its says Johnson ambushed Javid with a demand to sack all his aides and makes particular reference to reports that Cummings called him “Chino” (chancellor in name only).
Friday's front page:
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) February 13, 2020
THROWN UNDER THE BUS#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/EpXnzn2GyS
The Express says “Boris the iron man tightens his grip” after Javid lost a power struggle with No 10.
EXPRESS: @BorisJohnson the iron man tightens his grip #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BmRQRqUQTb
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 13, 2020
The i says “Javid quits as No 10 takes control”. It reports in bullet points that the reshuffle was thrown into chaos by the sudden departure of Johnson’s most powerful minister four weeks before the budget, and blames Cummings for the rift with No 11.
Friday's front page: Sajid Javid quits as Number 10 takes control with demand to sack key aides#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/nHiofXnYlA
— i newspaper (@theipaper) February 13, 2020
The FT adds a rare bit of budget red to its front page picture featuring Cummings, Johnson, Javid and Sunak. It says: “Javid walks out in protest over Johnson’s Treasury power grab”, explaining that the battle centred on how to manage Britain’s finances after Brexit, and says the pound rose on expectations that the purse strings might be loosened. There is front-page billing for an opinion column by Robert Shrimsley that points out that the departure was unnecessary and shows the PM will brook no dissent. “Chaotic exit shows compliance trumps competence in Downing Street” is the headline.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 14 February https://t.co/FyEgj9k1aU pic.twitter.com/QqAEZ9yf8A
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) February 13, 2020
The Sun focuses on a mother’s concerns that her young son might have contracted the coronavirus but it briefly mentions Javid’s departure and his call for the PM to retain people who can give him “clear and candid advice”. The headline is “Saj raps PM as he quits”.
