Tom Harwood: Media hit-piece on Boris Johnson's holiday has backfired

Boris Johnson returned from his holiday last night - just in time to attend his father's book launch. This didn’t however stop yet another day of stories about the Prime Minister being somewhere a little sunny for less than a week.

The media fixation began on Sunday, when the Sunday Mirror splashed ‘WHAT COSTA LIVING CRISIS’, revealing Boris had jetted off to Marbella, including a double page spread on the vital story inside.

By Monday the paper sensationally revealed that the Prime Minister was borrowing his friend’s house for the visit. Instead of renting one himself he was staying in a villa owned by his Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith.

Interesting? Maybe... a second front page - really? By Wednesday the same tabloid revealed the disgraceful scene of a man on holiday, wait for it, painting. Is it in the public interest to know the Prime Minister is on holiday? Of course.

Is it really the Watergate level story that deserves three front pages from one paper in one week? I’m not so sure. This morning The Mirror went on to reveal that Sir Keir Starmer has now waded in to what they are really trying to confect as a row.

Starmer has hit out at Boris for painting. Saying it “exemplifies” Government “complacency”. ‘Starmer Savages Painting PM’ read the headline. Clearly choosing to paint while on holiday is beyond the pale. One step too far. A national disgrace.

No, when on holiday the Prime Minister must simply sit in a darkened room, alone. It is outrageous to suggest that any relaxing activities may take place. Clearly the best decisions are made when those at the top of government get no time off, and preferably no sleep either.

Look, there are some very good and very lovely journalists at The Mirror, but it does strike me as a little hypocritical to go after the idea of painting on holiday while priding yourself as a paper that campaigns for workers’ rights, including time off.

I can’t help but notice throughout this week the Tories have not fallen in the polls. The holiday hit piece story has not landed as no doubt was hoped. Quite the contrary in fact, the Tories have gone up in the polls. Yesterday YouGov published a ten point lead for the Boris’s Party, up two points.