"One-nation Toryism"? Really?

As Toby Helm says, "early noises by prime ministers after election wins often turn out to be little more than meaningless mood music", and Johnson`s claim to be a "Brexity Hezza" is no exception ("Brexity Hezza" or rightwing ideologue: who is the real PM? 19.01.20). His repeated claims to be a "one-nation Conservative" were challenged in the Guardian by Michael Heseltine himself (Boris Johnson has no right to call himself a one-nation Conservative, 12/09/19), with  Heseltine`s own definition of the concept, "governing for rich and poor, young and old, black and white, north and south", clearly excluding all Tory administrations from being worthy of the description. As Andrew Rawnsley acknowledges, "infrastructure spending in the Midlands and the north" will not be sufficient to retain votes in the "left behind" areas (It won`t be easy for Johnson to keep his pledges to his new friends in the north, 19.01.20).

     Will Johnson really legislate to help renters if it risks losing the support of wealthy landlords and property owners? He has already refused Liverpool council`s application to extend its landlord licensing scheme, which required rented properties to  meet fire, electric and gas safety standards, and which had resulted in the prosecution of almost 250 rogue landlords. How will the housing problems in all constituencies, not just northern ones, be solved without massive funding to local governments? More funding for schools will not reduce teacher workload or solve recruitment and retention problems. Johnson`s plan for social care is non-existent. Propping up Flybe because it "connects regional airports" is unlikely to be repeated too often, especially if the intervention antagonises not only cabinet members "hostile to an active state", but an electorate increasingly concerned about climate change.

   Keeping pledges is not one of Johnson`s strengths, and any policies which threaten London`s dominance of the economy, or the financial security of the Tory party, are unlikely to reach the statute book during his premiership.