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It also serves to make Johnson look competent, when compared to Patel. I think that's a big reason why he keeps her in the job. She's one of the few senior ministers who isn't seriously considered as his potential successor
This is a very common approach - promote into senior positions those who a) would never get that/a similar role without you (Dorries being the most egregious example of this) and b) who cannot challenge you. Recipe for sycophantically loyal minions - without you they're nothing, so they have to keep you in power.
Canzani has now fucked Sunak's chances of the big job, so he's very much in the same boat as the rest of the mediocrities that make up the Cabinet - not one of them is viable successor, which is why we end up (I suspect) with Hunt as the next PM.
Dammit-
Hunt as the next PM
I think this would need the Tory party to be less rabidly brexity than it is, though. I don’t think the membership will go for someone who was a remainer in 2016. I could be wrong, but the party has made brexit its defining policy and (particularly as it isn’t going well) I think they won’t trust someone who wasn’t a true believer.
andyfallsoff
It also serves to make Johnson look competent, when compared to Patel. I think that's a big reason why he keeps her in the job. She's one of the few senior ministers who isn't seriously considered as his potential successor