Covid-19 has postponed this year's reshuffle, at which Priti Patel, and several other Rightists whom Boris Johnson had to some extent owed before the General Election, would have been sacked. If she really does have civil servants working of a proposal to restore capital punishment, then Johnson is letting her dig her own grave.
More than 20 years ago, I heard Michael Gove argue in favour of that one. But it was hard to imagine that he believed what he was saying even then, and it is inconceivable that, as a Member of Parliament, he would vote for it now. Certainly not 100 MPs would do so, and probably not 50, or a mere one in 13 of the total.
The death penalty's supposed popularity is based on antique polling, since the question has barely been polled in this century. Most people would now find it as offensive as being asked their opinion of interracial marriage.
So if Patel were to pursue this, then she would be humiliated, and her position would become untenable. There is every sign that Johnson is setting her up for that, to save himself a job. Jumping before she was pushed, indeed.
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