Sunak refuses to rule out Cabinet return for Johnson

RISHI SUNAK declined to rule out a return to Cabinet for the former prime minister as he revealed he spoke to Boris Johnson “late last year”.

The Prime Minister said he was “proud” of the work the pair had done together, but said he would not comment on “personnel” issues.

In an interview with ITV News, he denied his wealth was an issue among voters, and insisted the differences in his party over i mmigration were “minuscule”.

Asked if he missed Mr Johnson and whether he would have him back in his Cabinet, Mr Sunak said: “I’m proud of the work that we did together. And we worked well together for a long time. In the end there are, you know, well-documented differences.

“I never talk about these personnel things, but look, I speak to him on an occasion.”

Asked when he last spoke to him, he said: “I can’t remember, probably late last year.”

A s pokesman f or Mr Johnson declined to comment on the interview.

The Prime Minister said he had changed the culture in No 10 following partygate with a completely new team in which “people are held accountable”.

“And also, I think you just have to lead by example,” he said.

Talking about green targets, Mr Sunak said he is confident he will be on the right side of history when it comes to climate change – despite being accused of rowing back on key policies.

“We’ve decarbonised faster than any other major economy,” he said. “The change I’ve made is to do it in a way that eases the burden on working families.”

Mr Sunak also suggested a new health and social care plan would only be possible with additional funding; for example from higher taxes.

“If you’re going to introduce something new like [a social care plan], then you have to answer where it’s going to be funded from,” he said.

Asked if his wealth is an issue for voters, the Prime Minister suggested that those who attack him have a “lack of ambition for our country”.

“I think most people in our country are fair-minded,” he said. “And you know what, if someone wants to attack that or make it a political smear, I actually think it says more about them and their ambition for our country, or lack of it than it does about me and where I come from.”

‘I’m proud of the work that we did together. And we worked well together for a long time’