Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSimon WaltersThursday 04 June 2026 12:07 BSTBoris Johnson marks Brexit success out of 10Sir Conor Burns, a close aide to Boris Johnson, reveals Johnson's profound contempt for Theresa May in a new book, comparing her to a 'giant yucca tree under whose shade everything dies' and questioning her public appeal ahead of the 2017 snap election.Burns claims May's decision to appoint Johnson as Foreign Secretary was a strategic move to 'shaft' him, and he describes May herself as a 'stunningly stupid blank canvas'.The former aide suggests Johnson 'lacked the gumption' to push through Brexit without Dominic Cummings, despite their relationship later becoming 'cancerous', and criticises Johnson's 'flawed' appointments, including Sir Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary.The book details significant internal animosity and divisions within the Conservative Party, highlighting the mutual hatred between Johnson and Michael Gove's camps, and the disdain some officials and MPs held for Johnson.Burns also recounts Johnson's near-sacking of Liz Truss, describing her as 'constantly on manoeuvres', and offers critical portraits of other prominent Tories such as Matt Hancock, David Cameron, George Osborne and Johnny Mercer.In fullBoris Johnson described Theresa May as a ‘giant yucca tree under whose shade everything dies’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in