Sunak’s bluntness about Johnson could be sign he
has eye on the prize
Analysis: chancellor’s distancing of himself from PM
over false Starmer accusation suggests he’s getting ready to move next door
Heather
Stewart Political editor
Thu 3 Feb
2022 18.39 GMT
“To be
honest, I wouldn’t have said it.” Rishi Sunak’s blunt remark about Boris
Johnson’s comments on Keir Starmer and Jimmy Savile was the clearest indication
yet that he is distancing himself from his beleaguered boss.
Speaking in
the flag-bedecked Downing Street conference room without Johnson alongside him,
Sunak was attempting to set out in soothing tones a package of measures aimed
at easing the pain of the cost of living crisis.
But, as
ever in recent weeks, another crisis – that facing the prime minister’s
leadership – impinged on proceedings.
Less than
an hour earlier, Johnson’s close aide Munira Mirza had resigned, citing the
prime minister’s failure to apologise for trying to smear Starmer by falsely
connecting him with the failure to prosecute Savile.
Pressed on
whether Johnson should give a full apology for the remarks, as Mirza had asked,
Sunak repeatedly replied it was a matter for Johnson himself.
Sunak
didn’t say much. He didn’t have to. The comments are bound to be read by some
of his colleagues as the strongest signal yet he may believe it is now time to
act.
Certainly,
the chancellor looks like being the frontrunner in any leadership race – and
his handling of the cost of living squeeze is being closely watched by
backbenchers as a test of his political nous.
The cost of
living crisis is a present danger to him. But the past is too. Many Tory MPs
were already less than impressed with his insistence on increasing national
insurance contributions as the quid pro quo for funding Johnson’s costly plans
for the NHS and social care.
They are
unlikely to be reassured by the fact that inflation is likely to hit 7% in the
coming months. In effect, he is now handing households a rebate, at the same
time as increasing their taxes – giving with one hand and taking with the
other.
It was also
Sunak who doggedly insisted on cutting universal credit payments, which had
been increased by £20 a week to help the poorest families weather the pandemic.
After a furious backlash, which was partially reversed at the autumn budget by reducing
the taper rate at which it is withdrawn.
Sunak’s
careful approach to the public finances is praised by colleagues keen to see the
Tories win back their reputation for fiscal competence. But others regard it as
politically tone deaf, as the after-effects of the pandemic continue to ripple
through the economy.
Caution
about the public finances also appeared to be behind his decision to cushion
the blow of rocketing energy prices partly with loans, which will ultimately
have to be repaid by consumers themselves, rather than the taxpayer footing the
bill.
That is
effectively a bet on energy prices coming back down again in future years. If
they remain high for longer than expected, the Treasury may yet have to extend
the scheme.
Another of
Sunak’s political principles – a reluctance to interfere in business – appeared
to be behind his decision to avoid taxing energy companies to pay for the
measures, something Labour has been calling for since the autumn.
Polls
suggest that would be a popular approach, with oil companies raking in huge
profits; but it cuts against Sunak’s brand of free market Conservatism.
He has
frequently restrained Johnson’s free-spending instincts, believing as he said
in Thursday’s press conference that managing the public finances responsibly is
what the public have the right to expect from his party.
“As long as
I have this job I’m going to do what I believe to be right in the long-term
interests of the country,” he said. But there is increasing focus at
Westminster on how well his sombre brand of Conservatism would fit him for
another job altogether.
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