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Jo Johnson, modest, reluctant and somewhat lonely, has long been regarded by Westminster observers as a paler version of his flamboyant brother, Boris.
According to a political commentator, he is the "charismatic and nasty JR Dallas" of Bobby Ewing.
Jo's massive assault on the Prime Minister yesterday, while blatantly borrowing his brother's playbook, was unequivocal.
Jo Johnson (pictured before Parliament on Friday) resigned from his position as Minister of Transportation tonight
Fundamentally loyal and moderate, his resignation shocked even his closest friends.
One of Jo's most hurtful accusations against Theresa May is that her Brexit proposals "offer the nation a choice between two totally unattractive results, vassalage and chaos". It was, he continued, "a failure of British politics on a scale unprecedented since the Suez crisis". Sound familiar?
Less than a month ago, Boris urged the Prime Minister to take a stronger stance on the issue of "support" for Northern Ireland, saying: "If we let it go, it will be the greatest national humiliation since Suez ".
Similarly, last year, Boris said that if Britain leaves its country while remaining aligned with EU rules, "people would ask" what is the purpose of what you have achieved? because we would have gone from a Member State to a vassal State ". The similarities in their language are all the more extraordinary as the brothers are firmly anchored on both sides of the Brexit debate.
The bloody assault that Jo launched yesterday against the Prime Minister is not pale
Jo Johnson, 46, who resigned as Minister of Transport, is a member in good standing of the conservative Michael Heseltine Europhile party wing who wants to kill Brexit, hence his call for a second referendum.
Boris, 54, who left the Cabinet in July because of the Prime Minister's proposals for the auditors, is the standard bearer of the uncompromising Brexiteers who want to make the cleanest possible break in Brussels.
Now, they are united in a common cause on the back seats because, like their sister, the journalist Rachel Johnson, said last night, "none of them wants to benefit from Brexit".
Boris did not waste time tweeting on his support yesterday, but the question is: will they put Johnson's fierce competition and personal ambition that they both have aside for working together, and what would it mean for Ms. May if they did? They have always been close despite a childhood that, according to Boris biographer Andrew Gimson, was one of the "wild quizzes, scary ping-pong games, size, weight and blond competition".
For many – not least himself – it always seemed that Boris' fate was to move to Downing Street one day. But it was Jo, elected Orpington MP in 2010 after a career as a journalist, who became the first Johnson to establish himself at No. 10 as head of the Downing Street political unit. Boris had to be content with the mayor's office as mayor of London.
Jo had been the surprise choice of David Cameron at the helm of the unit in 2013 and Johnson & # 39; Minor & # 39 ;, as he was known after following in Boris's footsteps to Eton, was delighted with his s & # 39; Take it from his big brother.
It was not the first time Boris looked at Jo with a little jealousy. He was a graduate of Oxford with a leading degree in modern history, while Boris had only managed a 2: 1 in classics. Jo then obtained two other degrees from European universities.
One of Jo's most hurtful accusations against Theresa May is that her Brexit proposals "offer the nation a choice between two deeply unattractive outcomes, vassalage and chaos."
This did not help when he was working on the 2015 Tory Manifesto. The first draft was rejected as "useless". But he persevered and hardened and, after the Conservative election victory, was named Minister of Universities and Science.
He is now considered an important member of the Remainer clan in the Conservative parliamentary party known as "Sensibles", led by former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green, Chancellor Philip Hammond, the Former Interior Minister Amber Rudd and Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Tories. .
Boris' resignation was seen by most MPs for what she was: the former, ambitious and naked foreign secretary, who wanted to challenge Ms. May about what he describes like his "disturbed" Checkers plan.
But Jo's decision to leave is not a personal ambition, according to his friends, but because he sees a chance to scare Brexit. He was also dissatisfied as Minister of Transport, having been moved laterally during the last reshuffle.
Rachel Johnson, a strong supporter, said last night that she did not anticipate any tension in the family and that she would play tennis against Jo this morning, as usual.
Would he let him win in recognition of his principled decision to quit? "No," she replied. Anyway, he always beats me. The two brothers will continue to "fight," she added.
If Boris and Jo choose to forge a new alliance of the left and right of the party in any battle in power, they will form a formidable duo. And Ms. May knows it.
