Coronavirus: There's a power vacuum - but the cabinet is rallying around 'good choice' Raab
Senior Conservatives are ready to rally around Boris Johnson - and by extension - his chosen deputy Dominic Raab.
Tuesday 7 April 2020 23:38, UK
The Queen spoke for millions of people on Sunday night when she talked about the way in which the coronavirus crisis had touched the lives of each and every one of us.
Her Majesty said the disease had "brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all".
What we didn't know, as her address was being broadcast to millions of homes, was that the nation's other figurehead was making his way to St Thomas' Hospital in central London.
Number 10 stressed the prime minister's admission was "precautionary".
Sadly it was to become far more serious than that.
Coronavirus now not just a health, financial, social and political crisis for this government and country.
It is also a deeply personal crisis for Boris Johnson, after he was moved into intensive care on Monday night when having difficulty breathing.
For his loved ones, his friends, his colleagues and his country, these are deeply unsettling and anxious times.
We are in an era-defining crisis that is not just reshaping our lives in real time but will reshape our country long after this pandemic has passed.
The rebuild from such a dramatic health, economic and social shock will take years.
But for now, the focus in our government, our hospitals and our own communities is to get through the peak of this outbreak and try to limit the number of fatalities as best we can.
The prime minister remains the prime minister but he has now formally passed the day-to-day running of government to Dominic Raab, his foreign secretary and first secretary of state.
That gives him the power to authorise military action through his position as chair of the National Security Council.
Mr Raab's most pressing issue, of course, is to lead the coronavirus response.
He will do this with his cabinet, who will collectively take decisions on how to implement or, if necessary, change the strategy.
This is unlikely to be tested in the short-term: the big political issue of deciding on the exit strategy from the UK's lockdown seems some way off yet.
It is widely expected the lockdown measures will be rolled-over as the epidemic approaches its peak.
"We have a cabinet system of government," explained former prime minister Theresa May.
"Dominic Raab is leading that cabinet and I know - from everything I've seen and heard - that cabinet, which is supported by excellent scientific advice and a first class civil service, is absolutely committed to dealing with this crisis."
A cabinet government, a world-class civil service and experts very much back in vogue as the government tries to navigate this crisis.
The machine grinds on, even if it is missing the most important cog - the prime minister.
This handover of power is a temporary option while we wait to see if the prime minister improves and can perhaps return to work in a matter of weeks; or if his health deteriorates further.
It is also only a partial handover of power.
The foreign secretary will not be having weekly audiences with the Queen nor does he have the authority to hire or fire ministers.
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The prime minister's absence inevitably creates a power vacuum.
But cabinet ministers and senior Conservatives told me the overriding sentiment is to rally around Mr Johnson - and by extension his chosen deputy Mr Raab - 100%.
"Dom is a good choice because he's not divisive," one cabinet colleague told me.
The prime minister perhaps picking the man he can most trust to lead without trying to steal his power base.
The supremely capable Michael Gove might have been another option and he certainly harbours the ambition.
The past rivalries between Mr Johnson and Mr Gove during two successive Conservative leadership contests almost surely ruled him out.
There is another reason why the cabinet must keep focus: the public do not want to see infighting, indecision or political point-scoring.
This is a sentiment the new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is reflecting with laser-sharp focus as he talks up acting in the national interest and talks down party politics.
Failure to lead effectively when the prime minister is so unwell will not be forgiven.
Mr Johnson might not be in Downing Street, but for the next few weeks the machine can execute what was decided before he became so ill.
The coronavirus strategy as we approach the peak of the epidemic is set, while the giant financial support packages have been signed off.
The prime minister's health crisis is not yet a political crisis and all of those in government must work to keep it that way.
Mr Raab insisted on Tuesday the prime minister would be back running the country "in short order".
Everyone will be hoping he's right.