Foreign secretary takes over from Philip Hammond as senior UK minister during PM’s hiking break in Alps

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Boris Johnson’s dream of running the country could be in touching distance this week after Theresa May appointed him as her “senior duty minister” while she takes a break.

That means the foreign secretary has been placed on standby to step in if the situation demands, according to aides.

However, Downing Street was keen to stress that “the prime minister is very much in charge”, even while she spends time walking with her husband, Philip, in the Alps.

May’s deputy spokesman said Johnson would assume the position of duty minister after Philip Hammond, the chancellor, who took the role last week.

Asked if Johnson had been seen in Downing Street on Monday, the spokesman replied: “Not by me.”

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added: “The foreign secretary is continuing his usual business, but is not travelling outside of the UK this week.

“It is standard practice for a senior duty minister to be appointed whilst the prime minister is travelling. They can attend to urgent business or meetings if required. The prime minister remains in charge and will be updated throughout.”

Responding to the news, Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Putting Boris Johnson in charge of the country is like putting the Chuckle Brothers in charge of Newsnight.

“Still, at least if he’s here he’s not in Rio offending everyone he meets – and there’s always Larry the cat to stop him doing anything silly.

“Perhaps he can do something useful with his time in charge, like finding the £350m a week for the NHS that he promised,” Farron added.

May’s walking holiday has been widely contrasted with the type of breaks taken by her predecessor, David Cameron, who was more likely to be photographed by the beach with his wife than in full hiking gear. The previous prime minister was also more likely to leave colleagues in charge of running the country – although not always successfully.

In 2011, Nick Clegg’s elevated role when he was deputy prime minister slipped his mind.

When asked in an interview if he was in charge, he said: “Yeah, I suppose I am. I forgot about that. I’m holding the fort but I’m hoping to take the end of the week off with my kids.

“Someone else will have to do it then. It sounds more haphazard than it probably is. People forget there are emails and there is BlackBerry.”

Previously, John Prescott was embarrassed after being pictured playing croquet at his grace-and-favour home, Dorneywood, when he was supposed to be running the country from Whitehall as Labour’s deputy prime minister.