In a new BBC documentary, Boris Johnson revealed that David Cameron offered him a “top five job” during a tennis match to secure his support for remaining in the EU. Cameron, PM at the time, apparently wanted Boris to know that he:
valued his contribution, that he would be a major party of the government going forward.
Apparently, Cameron returned from the tennis match feeling “doubly good” after beating Johnson and believing he had appealed to his career ambitions.
Nevertheless, Cameron was quickly outmanoeuvred when the then-London Mayor announced — “after a huge amount of heartache” — that he would support leaving the EU. Johnson went on to help deliver victory in the referendum and later became PM, while the UK has since grappled with the consequences of the hard Brexit that followed.
The reality, in fact, was that Johnson saw himself as PM regardless of which side of the toxic debate he chose to back.
10 years on from Brexit — and we can all feel its cost
This BBC two-part documentary airs on 8 June, marking a decade since the Brexit referendum, which exposed deep divisions across the country, split families, and emboldened nationalist sentiment across the UK. Both sides of the campaign deployed highly emotive and often inflammatory rhetoric in a calculated effort to secure victory, advance their positions, and protect or enhance their political and financial interests.
The realities since have seen a worsening quality of life, massively increased cost-of-living caused by the cost-of-greed crisis affecting the lives of millions of ordinary Brits.
In this documentary, however, we see how Cameron sought to instrumentalise that toxic ambition, appealing to Johnson’s career interests in an attempt to secure his support.
He then said: ‘Look, would you consider joining us on the remain campaign? It’d be much better if … I’d love to have you in the cabinet. You should have a top five job,’
And I wasn’t sure what the exact hierarchy was. I obviously thought about it out of pure curiosity – what was this job?
There’s prime minister, chancellor, home secretary, foreign secretary. That’s four. What is the fifth? A mystery.”
On the other hand, Boris Johnson told the BBC that he saw a route to the premiership regardless of which side he chose. Nonetheless, this documentary seems to be attempting to glorify the period, and it must not be used as a ploy to rehabilitate political monsters who have harmed the UK in countless ways.
No-deal Brexit only a win for political elite and their cronies
However, the Brexit that was delivered to the public took a hardline form, producing a pretty limited and contested agreement with the EU that delivered precious few clear benefits. Newly appointed officials later claimed this harsh outcome had always been likely, despite it never having been clearly set out to voters during the referendum campaign.
Raab, then foreign secretary in 2019, told Radio 4 that the government was “turbo charging” towards a no-deal Brexit. Host Mishal Husain pointed out that the British public did not anticipate a no-deal outcome at the referendum, pointing out that the government subsequently pursued a path that conflicted with the interests of those it supposedly represents.
Other than their own egos, of course, which western politicians show they will never forget to serve.
Raab said at the time:
The mandate certainly wasn’t to leave the EU if the EU let us. It was an ‘in / out’ referendum and we made clear… that we should strive for a good deal, but if that wasn’t available that we should go on and make a success of Brexit and so that was discussed…
adding:
I was questioned on it by the BBC almost every time I appeared and so was Michael Gove… There’s all sorts of interviews which said that of course we’d prefer a deal, but that there would be a risk.
This was then fact checked — and found to be a lie — by Channel 4 who stated:
Mr Raab appears to be wrong about his colleague Michael Gove warning about the risk of a no-deal Brexit during the EU referendum campaign…
We can’t find any evidence of Mr Raab talking about the dangers of leaving without a deal before the vote either.
Brexit failed the British public — Boris and politicians used it for their careers
This BBC documentary highlights how senior politicians prioritised political manoeuvring, personal ambition, and career advancement over and above the interests of the public they were meant to serve. Rather than focusing on the long-term consequences of their decisions, they appeared far more concerned with securing influence and strengthening their own positions.
Whether it was Cameron attempting to bring Johnson into his ‘camp’ and neutralise a political rival, or Johnson calculating which side of the debate would best serve his ambitions, neither man appears to have placed the interests of ordinary Britons at the centre of his decision-making. Instead, both seem to have viewed the political turmoil as an opportunity to advance their own objectives.
The consequences of those choices continue to shape the country today. Many people struggle with rising living costs, overstretched public services, and declining trust in political institutions, while the political class continues to avoid the hardships experienced by the wider population.
Ultimately, the clearest beneficiaries of this long and divisive saga were the political elites who exploited public frustration, deepened divisions, and fuelled political hysteria to secure their own advantage.
While the country absorbed the costs, many of those at the centre of the drama emerged with enhanced careers, greater influence, and lucrative opportunities.
Featured image via Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Fortune Media
By Maddison Wheeldon
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