Johnson urged to make Hunt Chancellor

PM’S allies push for ‘dream team’ to nullify leadership rival and heal divided party

BORIS JOHNSON is being urged by allies to offer Jeremy Hunt the job of Chancellor to stabilise his leadership and heal rifts within the Tory party.

There is an acceptance among some loyalists that the Prime Minister is better at winning elections than governing the country, and vice versa for the former health secretary.

The proposals for what was dubbed the “dream team” emerged yesterday as Mr Johnson was left reeling from Monday’s confidence ballot in which 41 per cent of Tory MPS voted against him.

Mr Johnson last night expressed hope that the Tory infighting had eased, as he spoke at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war.

The Prime Minister said: “Now things are a bit quieter in Westminster, perhaps I may be able to go [to the Falkland Islands] before too long. Things seem relatively peaceful.”

Mr Hunt was the most prominent Conservative to speak out against Mr Johnson on Monday, saying the vote was a “change or lose” moment.

The suggestion that Mr Hunt be appointed Chancellor has been likened to Gordon Brown’s decision to bring Lord Mandelson, a Tony Blair ally with whom he had clashed, into government to shore up his administration in 2008.

Promoting his most prominent leadership rival from the backbenches into government would have the advantage for Mr Johnson of binding Mr Hunt to his agenda. However, Mr Hunt would not necessarily take the job, having rejected the chance to become Mr Johnson’s defence secretary after losing to him in the 2019 party leadership race.

If the Prime Minister were to demote Rishi Sunak, potentially as part of a wider reshuffle of the Cabinet, he would also risk appearing to be punishing MPS who stood by him.

Today, Mr Sunak, who like other leadership hopefuls in government has chosen to remain in Mr Johnson’s Cabinet this week, outlines his plans for economic growth in the months ahead, in an article for The Daily Telegraph.

The Chancellor promises tax cuts for businesses this autumn – although no specifics are mentioned – and talks about the “team” delivering the Government’s agenda. Mr Sunak writes: “Politics at its best is a unifying enterprise and if we stay true to the values we share with one another, we can inspire, unite and deliver for our country and be worthy of the great trust placed in us when we were elected.”

Meanwhile, Penny Mordaunt, the trade minister also tipped by colleagues to stand for the leadership if it becomes vacant, also writes for The Telegraph, saying that the Tories must deliver on policy promises or risk a voter backlash. She says: “The opportunities the electorate expect us to bring them postbrexit could have been made for the Conservative party.”

Mr Johnson and a group of around 20 Tory MPS described as his “Praetorian Guard” gathered on Monday night and discussed the possibility of a swift reshuffle. Some Tory MPS have personally urged the Prime Minister to promote members of the 2019 intake into ministerial posts, seeing it as a way to encourage loyalty among that group.

Mr Johnson yesterday attempted to move on from the vote, in which 211 MPS expressed confidence in his leadership and 148 sided against him. The victory was overshadowed by the size of the rebellion, as it was greater than those faced by Theresa May, John Major and Margaret Thatcher in similar votes.

Addressing the Cabinet yesterday, Mr Johnson thanked ministers for their support. As of last night there had been no ministerial resignations.