Boris Johnson on Rishi Sunak
Boris Johnson appointed Rishi Sunak as Chancellor of the Exchequer in his second cabinet reshuffle in February 2020, marking a period where Johnson supported Sunak's role as a key figure in government. This collaboration continued until July 2022, when Sunak's resignation, alongside Sajid Javid's, precipitated the mass walkout of ministers that forced Johnson to announce his own departure as Prime Minister.
Following these events, Johnson's view of Sunak reportedly soured, as Johnson felt betrayed by the manner of his exit. This tension surfaced publicly in June 2023 when Johnson's resignation honours list led to a public feud with Sunak. Johnson implied that Sunak was part of a 'witch-hunt' attempting to reverse Brexit, following the publication of the Privileges Committee report which found Johnson had misled Parliament.
More recently, Boris Johnson has expressed concern over the policy direction under Rishi Sunak's leadership, particularly regarding tax policy and the party's direction post-Brexit. Johnson has been critical of decisions made by the Sunak government, contrasting them with his own mandate from the 2019 general election.
Context
The relationship between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak is significant because Sunak was a key member of Johnson's government before becoming the figure instrumental in his downfall. Sunak served as Johnson's Chancellor, handling the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but his eventual resignation in July 2022 was the catalyst for the collapse of the Johnson premiership.
Since Johnson's departure, Sunak became Prime Minister, placing him in direct command of the Conservative Party. This automatically placed Johnson in the position of being a highly vocal former leader observing and commenting on the premiership of his successor, creating a natural tension between the two.
Timeline
- Boris Johnson replaced Sajid Javid with Rishi Sunak as Chancellor of the Exchequer during a cabinet reshuffle, bringing Sunak into a top role.
- Rishi Sunak resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer, citing a loss of confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership, triggering a mass resignation event.
- A public feud erupted between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak following the release of Johnson's Resignation Honours list, with Johnson accusing Sunak of being involved in a politically motivated effort against him.
- Johnson reportedly voiced criticism of the Sunak government, particularly on policy issues and the overall direction of the Conservative Party.
Criticism
A supporter of Johnson, Nadine Dorries resigned as an MP in protest after not being included in Johnson's Resignation Honours, directly referencing the ensuing public feud with Sunak.