Rishi Sunak: is the chancellor’s long political honeymoon coming to an end?
There’s grumbling that, as a former banker and the son-in-law of a billionaire, Sunak is flashy and out of touch
Is Rishi Sunak’s long political honeymoon coming to an end, asked Rowena Mason in The Guardian. For the past 18 months, the Chancellor has been riding high in the opinion polls, thanks to the generous furlough scheme and to his carefully curated public image. “He is serious, smooth and sleek, a teetotal family man”, who presents an “obvious counterpoint” to Boris Johnson. But “doubts are beginning to creep in” on the right of the Conservative party, following a “big tax-and-spend budget” more redolent of Gordon Brown than Margaret Thatcher.
Liz Truss, the new Foreign Secretary, had already “stolen his place at the top of the Tory popularity charts”. Now there’s grumbling that, as a former banker and the son-in-law of a billionaire, he’s flashy and out of touch. Most of all, there is irritation at Sunak’s “constant polishing of his own brand”, and his barely concealed ambition to succeed Johnson as PM.
“It’s an open secret Boris believes his chancellor has been insufficiently subtle over his manoeuvring to succeed him,” said Dan Hodges in The Mail on Sunday. It also annoys his colleagues that, when announcing popular policies on social media, Sunak removes the Conservative branding and replaces it with his own signature.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Last week, he even “appeared to disown his own Budget while he was still delivering it” – explaining at the end of his speech that he would much rather cut taxes, but that his hands were tied. Embarrassingly, he used the speech to make a personal pitch to Tory MPs about his own low-tax credentials. “He may long to be prime minister”, but for now he is Chancellor. He should “own” his own Budget.
Well, he was in a genuinely difficult position, said Fraser Nelson in The Daily Telegraph. Sunak is instinctively a low-tax Tory, like many of his colleagues – Truss, Sajid Javid, Priti Patel. But they were barely consulted by a prime minister who “treats his Cabinet like a personal court”, and who likes to splurge the cash. After promising to cut taxes whenever he can, Sunak will find it very difficult to raise them again; Johnson will, effectively, have to sack him. The Chancellor has “come as close as he dares to making a personal ultimatum”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Who actually needs life insurance?
The Explainer If you have kids or are worried about passing on debt, the added security may be worth it
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Sexual wellness trends to know, from products and therapies to retreats and hotels
The Week Recommends Talking about pleasure and sexual health is becoming less taboo
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is the AI bubble deflating?
Today's Big Question Growing skepticism and high costs prompt reconsideration
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Israel's war is America's, too
Opinion 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel' are just different slogans for the same hatred
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
How will honeytrap scandal change Westminster?
Today's Big Question Security procedures laid bare by spear phishing attack as focus shifts to 'political insider' being responsible
By The Week UK Published
-
Less than total recall
Editor's Letter Why our brains want to forget the darkest days of the pandemic
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Black and Hispanic voters: why they’re turning right
Talking Point Polling indicates that the groups may no longer be Democratic Party strongholds
By The Week UK Published
-
The Garrick: unfit for the modern world?
Talking Point Founded in 1831, the club is composed solely of men
By The Week UK Published