Social Market Foundation think tank chief James Kirkup argued that Tories who are supporting Boris Johnson in hopes of “steering” him after he wins could be in for a shock. Mr Kirkup explained that if they believe Mr Johnson is capable of breaking his promise to the European Research Group (ERG), there was nothing to stop him breaking other promises he made regarding reform. During a Channel 4 interview, Mr Kirkup said: “A modernising, reform inclined, one nation, middle of the road whatever phrase you want to use.

“If you are that sort of Tory the big question you have had is, do you buy into the idea that Boris the hard Brexiteer will get in and do a hard Brexit for the Brexiteers but then pivot back to the centre.

“Do you join the group of reformist for Boris, moderates for Boris who think that is where his instincts lie and can be steered later.”

The Channel 4 interviewer then added that these supporters believe that Mr Johnson won’t really do what he promised to do for the ERG.

Deputy Chairman for the ERG Mark Francois this week claimed that Mr Johnson had told him, to his face, that he would take the UK out of the EU by October 31 with or without a deal.

Mr Kirkup agreed and continued: “But also with domestic policy, he would be quite interested in doing some reform like the continuity David Cameron agenda stuff.

“There is quite a lot of people that have gone for that.

“It is no secret that there are Tory MPs who are backing Boris this week who don’t think that he is actually a very good thing.

“But they think they can make him a bit better, that they can steer him.”

The Channel 4 journalist noted that one Boris Johnson backing MP told him that “If the Devil is going to win, you have got to tame the Devil.”

Mr Kirkup continued: “The counter-argument to that is, hold on if you think this guy is going to get in and he is capable of betraying the ERG over Brexit, surely he is capable of betraying you over domestic reform as well.

“There is a great question now over who will have influence over Boris.

“The parallel is with US President Donald Trump.

“People said Trump would get in, he would pander to nationalism and then he’d actually listen to the Republican party.”

Donald Trump popularity has been closely centred around his unpredictability and determination to “drain the swamp” of typical politics and inability to be swayed by the inner workings of his own party. 

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