Boris Johnson ends the week with a new Chancellor in tow after Rishi Sunak replaced Sajid Javid in the role. Prior to the reshuffle, Sunak had expected to remain Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Although the Tory rising star had been tipped at one point to be given his own department to run, he had privately made it known that he wanted to stay put and help the Chancellor with next month’s Budget.
Sunak got his wish in part. He is staying in the Treasury. It’s just that he is now the one in charge. So, what does Sunak’s appointment mean for the direction of this government? As I say in iWeekend, although the speed of Sunak’s promotion took even his biggest supporters by surprise, he has long been talked up as a future chancellor. His appointment speeds up a transformation of the Tory party under Johnson – that along with several other key changes reveal the type of government Johnson wishes to lead.
When Javid said something was not possible, the judgement was sometimes met with suspicion in No.
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