Katy Balls Katy Balls

Is Boris Johnson planning to demote Rishi Sunak?

Is Rishi Sunak facing the axe? The Sunday Times reports this evening that Boris Johnson threatened to sack his chancellor this week during a meeting with No. 10 aides. After a letter Sunak wrote to the Prime Minister arguing for an easing of travel restrictions made its way into last week’s paper, Johnson was left in a rage as to who was behind the leak. In the Monday call, on realising that Sunak was absent, he is alleged to have said:

‘I’ve been thinking about it. Maybe it’s time we looked at Rishi as the next secretary of state for health. He could potentially do a very good job there.’ 

No-one in No. 10 is denying that Johnson said this. However, some play down the severity of the comments – suggesting it was a joke rather than a plan of action.

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