Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Is Rishi on manoeuvres?

(Simon Dawson/No. 10 Downing Street)

Boris Johnson’s day has just got considerably worse after Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the Prime Minister in a Downing Street press conference. The Chancellor pitched himself as the person focusing on the things voters actually worry about — unlike his boss. Sunak’s press briefing was on the cost of living crisis and specifically what the government was doing to help families with their energy bills, but naturally he was asked about the resignation of Munira Mirza (broken exclusively by James here) and the Savile smear that sparked it. Sunak was blunt. ‘With regard to the comments, being honest, I wouldn’t have said it and I’m glad that the Prime Minister clarified what he meant.’

The Chancellor pitched himself as the person focusing on the things voters actually worry about — unlike his boss

He was also asked to make the case for Johnson getting a second chance, but replied: ‘This is a question for the Prime Minister.

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