Why Boris Johnson annoyed by Rishi Sunak’s popularity ?
Political turmoil has erupted in Britain these days after the resignation of PM Boris Johnson. Indian-origin Rishi Sunak is leading the race for the new prime minister, but caretaker Prime Minister Boris Johnson, irritated by his popularity, reportedly told his colleagues to support anyone, but not Rishi Sunak.
Boris Johnson of the ruling Conservative Party resigned as party leader on 7 July. According to reports, he has urged leaders who have been left behind in the race to get the leadership of the party not to support former finance minister and chancellor Sunak, who is responsible for Johnson’s loss of support in his own party. A source said Johnson appears to be keen to get Secretary of State Liz Truss endorsed by his (Johnson’s) cabinet colleagues Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries. Johnson has also reportedly kept options open for Penny Mordaunt as his successor. Mordaunt is the junior trade minister.
Seeing the former chancellor’s resignation as an alleged betrayal, Johnson and his camp are running a covert campaign to ‘support anyone, but not Rishi Sunak’, according to the news. It is noteworthy that his resignation as finance minister ensured Johnson’s departure from 10 Downing Street. The newspaper quoted a source as saying that the entire 10 Downing Street team hates Rishi. They are not blaming Sajid Javid for ousting him (Johnson). They are holding Rishi responsible. They think he was plotting it for months.
Significantly, Sunak was the winner in the first two phases of voting conducted by Tory (Conservative) members of parliament. Meanwhile, an aide of Johnson has dismissed the claim that he (Johnson) wants to see someone other than Sunak succeed him. He, however, admitted that the outgoing prime minister is upset over Sunak’s betrayal. At the same time, Sunak’s camp tried to heed suggestions that his strong support was not apart of Tory MPs. Tory MP Richard Holden, who is backing Sunak, said hopefully we will move forward. PLC/GT
