Boris and Jo Johnson: Two very different brothers with an eye on the big prize The Tories will wish him luck. The emotions surrounding the great funeral seemed to bring the Tory tribe together; the leadership hopes that the effect will be lasting. The Tories too are addressing the problem of popularity, and their efforts also involve a brace of brothers. Jo and Boris Johnson both possess formidable attributes; any politician who combined their best qualities would be irresistible. As befits the new head of the No 10 policy unit, Jo is cerebral. He has a moral compass and intellectual guy-ropes, plus an understated, sophisticated charm. His charm muscles may be less prominent than his older brother's, because he has not had to develop them to slide out of several thousand scrapes. As a new MP, Jo has shown little interest in personal publicity and has been content to work away quietly. This has won him the respect of his thoughtful colleagues. Yet he is no less ambitious than Boris: merely more realistic. He has the qualities for high office. If he could also borrow some of his brother's animal magnetism... who knows how high? But Jo Johnson does know that politics is a long game: that there is no need for handstands at the beginning of the marathon. Which brings us to Boris, who is clever but not cerebral. He has a quick, cunning, sly intelligence, but above all, he is a force of nature. That may not be altogether desirable. Uninhibited by compasses or guy-ropes, forces of nature can be destructive, especially when they are credulous. Watching Hugh Grant's Love Actually, most of us were amused. Boris appeared to take it seriously as an account of a prime minister's workload. If Hugh Grant could do it, so could he. It is easy to imagine Jo driving a Cabinet minister's desk, probably by the end of a second Cameron term. Boris: within a quarter of an hour, there would be an almighty crash. The danger is that he will prove to be nothing more than a political wrecker: a mere charismatic narcissist, without principles, allegiances or loyalties. Helping to keep his brother in order will not be the least of Jo's duties. The head of the policy unit has a wide remit. But it is to be hoped that Jo will not take the "policy" bit too literally. This Government has never lacked policies. It has been bad at presenting them. There is a contrast with the Blairites. They were obsessed with the narrative, even when they had nothing to say. This lot have a great deal to say, but have never mastered the art of narrative. Few voters realise just how radical the current Government has been, even during an economic crisis. There has been publicity for the welfare reforms, and in health, Jeremy Hunt is justifying the PM's confidence in him: Mr Hunt has an excellent bedside manner. But not nearly enough has been done to proclaim the vital reforms in education. To understand the current education debate, it is necessary to look at a weekly column towards the back of the New Statesman. It purports to be the musings of a typical reader, generally an arts outreach worker among the tri-gender community of West Cumbria (the pieces should also be read by anyone involved in cutting public spending). The author is always asked which politician he would least like to be stuck in a lift with, and about two thirds of the time the answer is "Michael Gove." Bright, witty and courteous, Mr Gove would always be excellent company, even if stuck in a lift. But the Lefties hate him, because he not only threatens their control of education: he does so in the name of social mobility and social generosity. They see a good school and think: "This is unfair." He sees a bad school and does not merely think it unfair. He acts to prevent it blighting its pupils" life chances. The electorate needs to be made aware of Mr Gove's benign radicalism, and David Cameron ought to become aware of the need for repetition. Politicians are too inclined to believe that once they have made a speech, they have made their point. This was something that the Blairites understood. Make your point. Make it again and again until you are sick of your own words. Then, at last, the voters might notice. So Jo Johnson should encourage ministers to repeat themselves, with the theme of social improvements even in hard times. It would be easier to convince people that the Government was on the right economic course if the public could be persuaded that the PM and his colleagues were on their side. "If you want your kids to have a decent education, you must vote Conservative" might be a useful slogan for 2015. It is too late for this Thursday. In part, all local elections, by-elections and European elections turn into a referendum on the question: "Does the Government deserve a kick in the pants?" It is hard for the "Noes" to prevail. Ukip has positioned itself skilfully as a combination of the Santa Claus party and the spittoon party. Promise the voters everything they want, while also appealing to those who think the country is going to the dogs. Ukip is bound to do well this week, but that will only matter if the Tory party then goes to the dogs, of disloyalty.