Rishi Sunak’s future is the subject of increasing speculation after a new survey revealed Liz Truss to have a commanding lead among Tory members.
If he loses the race for No. 10, some MPs believe the former chancellor may decide to resign from office, despite his aides vow he is “not going anywhere.”
Senior Conservatives feel Mr. Sunak “burned his boats” in the race, which is scheduled to end on September 5, and is unlikely to be presented with a job offer he could take.
According to YouGov research, 66% of party members, who are choosing Boris Johnson’s replacement, support Ms. Truss.
Including the unsure, just 34% of respondents favour Mr. Sunak. Even if the 32-point lead is a little narrower than it was two weeks ago, just 13% of voters are still uncertain, and almost six out of ten have already cast their ballots.
The poll also revealed broad sorrow about Boris Johnson’s departure, with 55% of respondents believing it was wrong to make him go.
A former minister said there was no prospect of his serving in a Truss administration since the tone of the Sunak campaign had lately become “a lot more personal.”
From that perspective, I believe he has served his purpose. Suella and Kemi may be awarded Cabinet posts, while Rishi might not. I believe he went and set his boats on fire.
He has a lot of options if he decides to go elsewhere for a job that pays well. I should have anticipated that he would do it.
They emphasised that Mr. Sunak had a history of connections to Silicon Valley and the US since he formerly possessed a highly sought-after green card.
Another senior MP suggested that Mr. Sunak find for employment elsewhere, noting that “he has vast alternatives.”
Even though he is unlikely to accept, they said Ms. Truss may offer him the position of foreign secretary. They said that if he declined, he would seem to be a bitter loser.
A Mr. Sunak ally from the Tories, though, argued that the contest was still too close to call and declared that, win or lose, he would continue to serve in Parliament. He won’t be moving, I tell you. He is not a spoiled kid; he is a public servant.
Blue-on-blue assaults have intensified, and the Sunak camp is upset that several MPs have changed their allegiance as Ms. Truss’s campaign has gained traction.
Those that make the transfer do so just to advance their professions, which is cowardly. No one forgets a switcher, and it usually has a negative outcome for the
Mr. Sunak said, “Yes, without a doubt,” when asked whether he still had a chance to win on ITV’s This Morning.
I’m extremely enthusiastic to keep going, I think my views are the correct ones, he said, adding that he believes he has a “shot at becoming prime minister.”
Supporters of Truss have ignored a warning from the reputable IFS think group that “permanent tax cuts” may put even greater pressure on government expenditure.
According to the IFS, high inflation and interest rates will increase public expenditure, notably on benefits and pensions.
This will probably counteract the impact of any anticipated rise in tax revenue when coupled with the lacklustre economic growth.
“A sensible prime minister and chancellor would be advised not to count on stronger income matching higher expenditure,” the research cautions. “They would be motivated to deliver on the government’s current budgetary objectives and to manage the nation’s finances responsibly.”
The research “drives a coach and horses through Liz’s economic strategy,” according to a Sunak campaign spokesperson.
According to the spokesperson, “Rishi has always argued that permanent, unfunded tax cuts will seriously harm the state budget and raise inflation.”
But Truss backer and Education Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News: “Frankly, we have seen that the development of the UK economy has not been as robust as we would expect.
It is a growth strategy, and if you don’t have a plan for growth, you don’t have a plan for governance, which is what Liz is seeking.
Both candidates reiterated their economic platforms at the most recent hustings in Belfast. Mr. Sunak said the Foreign Secretary would be guilty of “moral failure” if she did not focus on the nation’s weakest citizens and warned that her policies may further fuel inflation.
Instead, Ms. Truss said that “taxes are too high and they may be holding off development.”
A campaign source emphasised that Ms. Truss “would utilise an emergency budget to jumpstart her plan to get our economy moving and put more money into the wallets of hardworking people” while Team Truss downplayed the IFS report.
Liz will reduce taxes while using the available budgetary leeway to reduce the debt to GDP within three years. Business as usual won’t do, and you can’t tax your way to growth.
It comes after Jacob Rees-Mogg, the minister for Brexit possibilities, said Mr. Sunak prevented a Whitehall cost-saving initiative from progressing further.
A major Truss backer and Johnson ally, Mr. Rees-Mogg, claimed in the most recent assault on the former chancellor that a “strict control on expenditure and a concentration on preventing fraud” had saved £3.5 billion between 2020 and 2021.
The Minister for Government Efficiency, Mr. Rees-Mogg, said in the Telegraph that the Efficiency and Value for Money Cabinet Committee was founded earlier this year with the goal of saving the taxpayers more than £5.5 billion annually.
“The past chancellor regrettably under-utilized this, but it must be a key weapon in the future prime minister’s toolbox for reducing waste and inflation.”
The widow of former Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble supporting Ms. Truss’ campaign for No. 10 gave her even more momentum.