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After initially suggesting he may lead a Commons rebellion against his rival’s economic ideas, Rishi Sunak maintained today that if he loses the Tory leadership battle, he will vote in favor of Liz Truss’s tax cuts.
As he behind the Foreign Secretary in the contest for Number 10, the ex-apparent chancellor’s change of heart occurred after he was accused of “thrashing about all over the place like a wounded stoat” by Ms Truss’s backers.
Mr. Sunak previously said that millions of people would be at danger of “destitution” as a result of Ms. Truss’s emphasis on tax cuts rather than “handouts” for families amid the cost-of-living issue.
In addition, he has implied that if his challenger succeeds him as prime minister, it would be “immoral” for her to not provide more direct assistance to British citizens who are struggling to pay skyrocketing energy costs.
When asked twice this week, Mr. Sunak declined to say whether or not he would support Ms. Truss’ tax cuts in the Commons if she were to take the oath of office.
It made it more likely that the former chancellor and his allies wouldn’t support the new PM in one of her major policy commitments.
But after receiving a ferocious response for his “bitter” criticism of Ms. Truss, Mr. Sunak this afternoon said he would embrace his rival’s initiatives.
When the outcome of the Tory leadership contest is known next month, he also refuted claims that he would resign from Parliament if he lost to Ms. Truss.
He said on BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “I’d always back a Conservative administration, of course I would, it goes without saying.”
Naturally, I’ll back a Conservative administration. I have a deep sense of loyalty to the Conservative Party and want it to succeed.
I will always support a Conservative administration because I think it’s best for our nation, whether I’m a minister or a backbencher.
Today, Rishi Sunak declared that if he fails to win the Tory leadership election, he would support Liz Truss’ tax cuts.
The former chancellor had previously declined to indicate if he would support his rival’s ideas in the Commons until yesterday, when he paid a visit to his family’s former pharmacy in Southampton.
Ms. Truss’s friend described Mr. Sunak as “bitter” for his ongoing criticism of the foreign secretary.
Despite suggestions that Mr. Sunak, who has long-standing connections to California’s Silicon Valley, may leave the UK after losing the Tory leadership race, he stressed he would “absolutely not” leave politics.
In his fight with Ms. Truss, Mr. Sunak recently acknowledged that he is now the “underdog,” but he now emphasized his persistent optimism that he would prevail.
He said, “I don’t believe the campaign is done; I’m still working for it.”
Tonight, in front of Conservative members, Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss, who is largely anticipated to win the fight for No. 10, will participate in their last hustings.
The Sunak and Truss campaigns’ verbal battle intensified ahead of their most recent chance to earn the support of the party’s grassroots, at this evening’s rally in Norwich.
The ex-chancellor was asked at a hustings event on Tuesday night whether, if Ms. Truss were to become prime minister, he would support her emergency budget proposal.
When questioned about whether he would rebel against his adversary, he refused to comment on a “hypothetical” subject.
In a TV interview yesterday, Mr. Sunak was challenged once again on the subject and said he “was not going to participate with these things.”
Mr. Sunak received the support of 137 MPs in the first round of the Conservative leadership election.
Fears the ex-chancellor might lead his followers in a Commons revolt against the Foreign Secretary if she becomes PM next month were raised as a result of his failure to commit to endorsing Ms Truss’ economic program.
If we are left on the backbenches and Rishi says he would vote against her tax cuts, why wouldn’t we support him? said one of Mr. Sunak’s supporters to The Times.
Another person remarked: “It would be a significant choice if I believed it was going to substantially harm the poor.
“I would really struggle to vote for it.” I wouldn’t be obligated in any way.
However, Mr. Sunak was labelled “bitter” for his continuous criticism of his competitor while behind the Foreign Secretary in the leadership race, prompting a ferocious pushback from Ms. Truss’s team.
Sunak is in a completely other micro-world of his own, flailing about like a wounded stoat, a top ally of Ms. Truss told the newspaper.
He’s just assaulting her, that’s all. Someone has to take him by the scruff of the neck at some point and ask, “What are you doing?” Do you intend to ruin this party?
“With less than two weeks before the party, everyone is usually working to get the party together by this point.” But these assaults paint us as vile Tories. It has to stop because it’s hurtful and personal.
This morning, a government official who supports Mr. Sunak demanded a halt to the “completely unnecessary” assaults emanating from the opposing Tory factions.
Will Quince, the minister for schools, said on Sky News: “One of the things I found most challenging about the leadership campaign has been the type of blue-on-blue, which I believe is utterly needless.”
“Both candidates should merely outline their optimistic plans for our nation.”
And the most crucial thing is that our parliamentary party as a whole supports the new leader and prime minister when we have a new prime minister in two weeks.
‘And we continue to deliver for the British people. That is what I want to see, too.
Mr. Sunak made an effort to downplay the effect of the “feisty” leadership race on Tory cohesion.
In response to a Facebook Q&A, he said, “Everyone engaged is enthusiastic about their views and their vision for the nation, and that’s no terrible thing.”