Boris Johnson allies accuse Rishi Sunak of being a liar
Liz Truss is expected to join the race for Conservative leader as the former chancellor promises to steer clear of “comforting fairy tales.”
Boris Johnson’s aides are trying to stop Rishi Sunak from becoming Conservative party leader. They accuse the former chancellor of being a liar in triggering the premier’s abrupt departure.
Over 50 Conservative lawmakers quit the government following Sunak, and health minister Sajid Javid quit on Tuesday, causing Johnson to resign as Tory leader two days later.
Close friends of Johnson have said Johnson’s close friends said there is “huge anger” within Downing Street over Sunak’s resignation. One top official at Number 10 said Sunak was “a reckless scumbag”.
Sunak declared his candidacy to be Tory chief on Friday through a YouTube video where he pledged to end “comforting fairy stories” -an attack in code on Johnson’s tenure as the prime minister.
Related: Attorney General Suella Braverman attempting to become the next prime minister after Boris Johnson?
A government official close to Johnson claimed Sunak did not notify Johnson of his decision to leave, but a Whitehall insider claimed that Sunak “tried to reach the prime minister, but did not answer”.
Cabinet ministers loyal to Johnson stated that his aides would work to ensure Sunak could not be elected the next leader. “Rishi will be rewarded with all the respect he deserves for leading the charge in taking down the premier,” he said. Sunak’s staff declined to make any comments.
Johnson’s allies also accused by Johnson’s allies Sunak of taking an unsound approach to the economy during his time as the chancellor. One insider at Number 10 said: “He had no real strategy for growth, and was] simply obsessed with balance financial books.”
Jacob Rees Mogg, the minister responsible for Brexit opportunities and Johnson supporter, has declared Sunak “the popular socialist chancellor”.
A senior government insider told me that Johnson considered Sunak as a “great chancellor” and pointed out that he’d stated in the resignation note that he was going to “miss working with Sunak”.
Read: Topless Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau would be a ‘disgusting sight’
The battle to replace Johnson is expected to be a very competitive field. Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and defence Secretary Ben Wallace are among the most powerful candidates expected to compete.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will launch her campaign for Conservative leadership within the next few days, according to those aware of the plans. It is expected that she will seek to distinguish herself from Sunak in economics by pledging tax cuts and supply-side changes.
One Truss friend stated: “She’s definitely not the economic continuity candidate.”
Truss will promote “a clear and concise vision of the economy, based on Conservative principles”, Another ally added. In addition to advocating for fewer regulations, Truss will focus on the regulatory differences with the EU.
Her appeal to Conservative lawmakers will stress that she can hold Johnson’s voting alliance throughout England. One of her supporters claimed that “no one else” can hold both their wall’ of the former Labour heartlands and the ‘blue wall of suburban seats, which the Tories are at risk of losing over to Liberal Democrats.
Numerous bookmakers have put Sunak 42 as likely to be one of the new Conservative leaders. Many Tory MPs have also regarded Sunak as a leading candidate.
Also Read: What is Boris Johnson’s net worth
However, he’s not liked by certain Conservative MPs due to the tax increases he proposed for financial assistance from the government in times of emergency during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Sunak’s video focuses on trying to get the Tories away from the tumult and scandal which weakened Johnson. “Let’s restore confidence, build the economy, and unite the nation,” he said.
The former chancellor indicated that his policy plan focused on fiscal discipline, in which he fought with Johnson.
“Do you face this moment with candor and seriousness?” asked Sunak. “Or do we tell ourselves calming stories that bring us comfort for a moment, but make our children feel worse in the future?”
Sunak has already received the first major endorsements in the presidential race. The endorsements include Former Tory Chief whips Mark Harper and Mark Spencer.
Kemi Badenoch, the former minister of equalities, also formally announced a leadership run on Saturday. In a blog post, she laid out a platform that reflects liberty-based ideals and state reform. “I would like to speak the truth. It’s the truth that can make us free,” she wrote.
Tom Tugendhat, chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee, said Friday that he was planning to replace Johnson. “It’s time to make a clean beginning,” he said. “It’s time to renew.”
Suella Braverman, Attorney-General She announced on Wednesday that she will remain.
While this was happening, Johnson continued to appoint junior ministers to fill in the large gaps within his government. Peter Bone, a veteran Tory MP, was appointed deputy leader of the Commons.
4.9 / 5.0 by 250+ Customers
