Peter Hoskin

Has Maude shut the door in Boris’s face?

Nigel Lawson and Francis Maude are both interviewed in the Telegraph today, and the results are very different in each case. For his part, Lawson is in bombastic form – waxing sceptical on everything from the coalition to the Big Society. Whereas Maude is predictably more reserved and accepting.

It’s the Maude interview, though, that contains the most politically significant revelation. Namely, this:

“Boris Johnson, privately backed by several Cabinet ministers, is leading the charge for tougher union laws. But Maude, a key player in the Coalition’s dealings with the public sector, is reluctant. Tightening Thatcher’s labour laws is a ‘last resort’ he says. In the meantime, the Government should have faith in rank-and-file trade union members to embrace the Coalition agenda even as their leaders are roaring their opposition.”

Significant, because the coalition has been discussing union reform with Boris for some time now – and, judging by this recent article, seemed to be coming round to the London Mayor’s way of thinking. But Maude’s caution implies that the outcome is far from settled.

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