Speak with GB News host Dan Wootton, Madeline Grant slammed the “dark arts” application contest. The parliamentary sketchwriter discussed rumors that Rishi Sunak’s team “lent” their votes to former health minister Jeremy Hunt to ensure he advances to the next round, as they believe Sunak could beat it. Mr Huntwho came in second in the 2019 leadership election.
Dan Wootton began by asking Ms Grant whether the former parliamentary researcher and speechwriter thought Tory members felt “betrayed” by Mr Sunak.
He said: “All I pick up, Madeline, is that the Tory members don’t want to vote for Rishi.
“They feel betrayed by the tax increases and the lack of promise of tax cuts and they are also really furious that he ordered the knife against Boris Johnson.”
In response, Ms Grant argued that his demise was instead associated with an unpopular “regime” and the former chancellor’s role in the partygate debacle, calling that “situation with a pie”.
She said: “I’m not sure I would totally agree with that.
“I’m sure there are people who are very angry with the Chancellor for his role in impeaching the Prime Minister.
“But I think ultimately a bigger problem for Rishi Sunak is the fact that he was associated with a regime that was quite unpopular.
“He is associated with tax hikes, he can’t get away from that now because it’s his own economic platform.
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“Some hate his role in impeaching the Prime Minister and there are others who still associate him with Boris Johnson and his style of government.
“I think you’re absolutely right, what happens next depends a lot on who finishes in the last two.
“And there are rumors that team Sunak has decided to give some of their votes to the Jeremy Hunt team.
“So that he would go through to the next round because they know he’s one of the few people he seems to be gauging very well in these second rounds.
“So I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but there seems to be a lot of backstabbing and dark arts going on already and this match is only a few days away.”