Boris Johnson’s allies are seeking to stop Rishi Sunak becoming leader of the Conservative Party and accusing the former chancellor of treason for triggering the prime minister’s premature exit.
More than 50 Conservative MPs quit the government after Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned on Tuesday, prompting Johnson to step down as Tory leader two days later.
Close allies of Johnson said there was “tremendous anger” in Downing Street over Sunak’s resignation. A senior Number 10 official called Sunak a “conniving bastard”.
Sunak launched his bid for Tory leader on Friday with a video in which he pledged to end “comfort talk” – a coded attack on Johnson’s time as prime minister.
One government official close to Johnson said Sunak had not informed the prime minister of his intention to stand down, although another Whitehall insider said Sunak “tried to call the prime minister but he didn’t answered”.
I will be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.
Let us restore trust, restore the economy and unite the country. #Ready4Rishi
Register 👉 pic.twitter.com/LldqjLRSgF
— Ready for Rishi (@RishiSunak) July 8, 2022
A cabinet minister loyal to Johnson said his allies would try to ensure Sunak did not win the leadership race. “Rishi will get what he deserves for leading the charge to bring down the prime minister,” he said. Sunak’s team declined to comment.
The race to succeed Johnson will be crowded: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace are also expected to be in the running.
Johnson’s allies also accused Sunak of mishandling the economy while chancellor. A No 10 insider said: “He had no real plan for growth, [and was] just obsessed with balancing the books.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Brexit options minister and a staunch Johnson supporter, described Sunak at a cabinet meeting on Thursday as a “much complained about socialist chancellor”.
But another senior government official said Johnson saw Sunak as a “great chancellor” and noted that he had said in his resignation letter that he would “miss working with him”.
Several bookmakers have pegged Sunak, 42, as the favorite to be the next Conservative leader, and many Tory MPs also see him as a front-runner.
But he is unpopular with some Conservative MPs because of the tax increases he introduced to pay for emergency government support during the Covid-19 pandemic and better public services afterwards. The tax burden is about to rise to its highest level since the late 1940s.
Sunak’s video focuses on trying to distract the Tories from the scandal and turmoil that undermined Johnson. “Let’s restore trust, restore the economy and reunify the country,” he said.
The former chancellor has signaled that his political platform will focus on fiscal discipline – on which he has clashed with Johnson.
“Are we meeting this moment with honesty, seriousness and determination?” asked Sunak. “Or do we tell each other comforting stories that may make us feel better now, but tomorrow our children will be worse off?”
It is recommended
Sunak, the son of first-generation migrants to the UK, uses his video to talk about the importance of family values and the opportunities he’s been given in life. He has already won the first major endorsements of the leadership contest: the former Tory boss beat Mark Harper and Mark Spencer.
Truss is expected to announce his candidacy soon and will emphasize “fiscal soundness,” with tax cuts funded by a smaller state over the long term.
Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee, said on Friday that he would seek to succeed Johnson. “It’s time for a fresh start,” he said. “It’s time to renew.”
Suella Braverman, the attorney general, said Wednesday that she will run for party leadership.
Meanwhile, Johnson continued to appoint junior ministers to fill the significant gaps in his government. Peter Bone, a veteran Tory MP, has been given the new role of deputy leader of the House of Commons.
Add Comment