More nukes, less aid and a Brexit mentality – the sum of Boris Johnson’s crude politics

The prime minister has learned the lesson of the permanent campaign, and a by-election in Labour-held Hartlepool is a gift, writes John Rentoul

Boris Johnson leaves No 10 to make an intensely political statement in parliament (EPA)

The acres of worthy coverage in advance of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (even the title seemed designed to be as dull as possible) had something missing. What was the point of it all?

Obviously, it serves a bureaucratic purpose in coordinating policy for the Ministry of Defence, the intelligence agencies, and the newly merged Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office. All is now neatly packaged with everything at right-angles.

But Boris Johnson doesn’t do anything unless it is designed to win the next election. He has learned from Bill Clinton and Tony Blair the importance of the permanent campaign, and in particular of listening to the people who voted for him for the first time.