Major's Authority Under Siege as Lamont's Rebuke Leaks

John Major's attempts to restore his authority are being undermined by an embarrassing feud with his former Chancellor, Norman Lamont. In an interview with the Times magazine, Lamont described Major as "weak and hopeless" and was critical of the Prime Minister's attempts to revive the Conservative Party with his "Back to Basics" theme. The fallout has seen Tory MPs turn on Lamont, with one describing him as a "despicable little rat." Meanwhile, Labour and Liberal Democrats are piling on, highlighting the divisions within the Conservative Party.

Key Takeaways:

• Norman Lamont, former Chancellor, described John Major as "weak and hopeless" in an interview with the Times magazine.
• Lamont was critical of Major's attempts to revive the Conservative Party with the "Back to Basics" theme, calling it "nauseating".
• Tory MPs have turned on Lamont, with one calling him a "despicable little rat".
• Employment Secretary David Hunt complained about "froth" in the media, while Labour and Liberal Democrats seized on the divisions within the Conservative Party.
• The feud has damaged Lamont's reputation and potentially threatens his re-election in his constituency of Kingston-upon-Thames.
• Major will need to "Restore His Authority" again, but past form suggests this will be an uphill battle.

Statistics:

• 16-tonne weight: the metaphorical weight of Norman Lamont's unguarded remarks on John Major.
• 2 days: the time frame in which the controversy has unfolded.
• 1: the ranking of Norman Lamont as the youngest MP in Parliament when he was elected.
• 11 Downing Street: the location where Lamont made speeches that were later excised by Major.
• 1 week: the timeframe in which John Major will have to "Restore His Authority" again.

Sources:

[1] "Times" magazine (no date available)

[2] "Sunday Express" (no date available)

[3] "The Guardian" (no date available)

[4] "The Times" (no date available)