Rishi Sunak labeled ‘corrosive figure’ by Beth Rigby
Rishi Sunak has emerged as the frontrunner in the 2022 Tory leadership contest, with the ex-chancellor gaining the support of 47 conservative colleagues. However, a total of eight contenders have received support from the 20 MPs needed to reach the first ballot just days after Boris Johnson told Brits he would give up “the best job in the world” pending a race to get him. to replace. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Commerce Secretary Penny Mordaunt, Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, ex-Equality Minister Kemi Badenoch, former Leader candidate Jeremy Hunt and Attorney General Suella Braverman also joined to the ex-chancellor on the first ballot.
Mr Sunak, who pressured Mr Johnson to quit by resigning from number 11 last week, decided to step on a slightly different platform than many of his leadership rivals.
While others, including Ms Truss, have pledged to make immediate tax cuts, the Richmond MP has vowed to reduce the tax burden until a later date.
Speaking at his leadership launch at Westminster, the ex-chancellor said: “Once we have inflation under control, I will lower the tax burden.
“It’s a question of when, not if.”
Two great beasts of the cabinet appeared at the launch of Mr Sunak ‘Ready4Rishi’.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, who initially faced Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, welcomed the former chancellor to the podium and emphasized Mr Sunak’s eurosceptic credentials.
Mr Raab said: “I remember when we had the referendum in 2016, he was one of the first to come out of the trap – as a young new MP, a backbencher – with all the pressure that was on him at the time, and he He immediately put his colors on the mast and not only that, he immediately started thinking about how we could seize the opportunities of Brexit.”
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‘Common sense Thatcherism!’ Sunak turns to Iron Lady as cabinet pays back ex-chancellor (Image: Getty)
Sunak said, “That’s my economic approach. I would describe it as common sense Thatcherism.” (Image: Getty)
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who briefly made his own bid to succeed Johnson, was also in attendance as a supporter of Sunak’s campaign.
However, the ex-chancellor has once again put out his economic stall and even channeled Margaret Thatcher’s fiscal legacy.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Sunak said: “Inflation is the enemy that makes everyone poorer.
“And if we don’t do anything now to tackle inflation, it’s going to cost families more in the long run, especially on their mortgage rates.
“So that’s what I’ll focus on.”
The ex-chancellor added: “But we will cut taxes, as I said, and we will do it responsibly.
“That’s my economic approach. I would describe it as common sense Thatcherism.
Sunak (left) is considered the frontrunner in the race to succeed Boris Johnson (right). (Image: Getty)
“I believe she would have.
“And my economic approach has been endorsed by many people who have a good understanding of how she felt about these things.
“I think this is the right approach for the country.”
The former Chancellor has the support of many central figures in Mrs Thatcher’s government.
Two other residents of number 11 appeared to offer their support for the ‘Ready4Rishi’ campaign after Lord Lamont of Lerwick gave convincing approval and Dominic Lawson, son of Lord Lawson of Blaby, suggested that his father also see Mr Sunak would support.
Former Tory leader William Hague also appeared to be giving the ex-chancellor a boost after he wrote a piece in the Times suggesting that Mrs Thatcher would not cut taxes at this point.
Mr Hague, who preceded Mr Sunak as MP for Richmond, concluded: “A whole host of tax promises should not be the dividing line in this leadership election.
“But if that’s the line, Sunak is on the right side of it.”
Mr Hague’s intervention came just hours after Ms Truss vowed to abolish the increase in national insurance and cut taxes “from day one” to ease the pressure of the crisis on the cost of living .
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Ex-Tory leader William Hague also gave Mr Sunak a boost in a piece written in the Times. (Image: Getty)
Allies of the Richmond MP have dismissed the charges against Sunak. (Image: Getty)
Mr Hunt, who lost to Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, also suggested he would cut some taxes and even cut corporate taxes to 15 percent.
Despite the support of several big beasts, Mr Sunak has faced criticism since entering the race after a 424-word anti-Sunak dossier circulated in Westminster.
The document described Mr Sunak as a “schoolboy”, a “liar” and even claimed that “there is nothing conservative” about the frontrunner’s economic agenda.
Brexit Chances Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, a loyal Johnson supporter, echoed such criticism, accusing Sunak of pursuing policies that were “all about the big state”.
The ex-chancellor’s leadership bid faced other problems this weekend after a video surfaced showing 21-year-old Sunak saying he has no working-class friends and that he was forced to deny ties to the Brexit deal. supporting ex-number 10 of Johnson. advisor Dominic Cummings.
However, allies of the Richmond MP have dismissed the charges against Sunak.
Redcar MP Jacob Young told: express.co.uk“It’s both unfair and downright misleading to characterize Rishi as a ‘big tax, big spend’ chancellor.”
Ex-housing secretary Robert Jenrick told GB News: “I think he has the best plan for growing the economy over the next few years, cutting taxes over time, but doing it in a credible way that makes it happen.” can make sure we don’t either. let borrowing get out of hand.”