Johnson and Sunak in ‘lockstep’ despite demotion joke

BORIS JOHNSON has full confidence in the Chancellor and the pair are in “lockstep”, No10 has insisted in an effort to quell tensions.

It comes after the Prime Minister was reported to have made a joke about demoting Rishi Sunak to Health Secretary in a meeting last week, having been angered that a letter written to him by Mr Sunak calling for the easing of travel restrictions had been briefed to the media. Mr Johnson was reported to have said in a meeting: “Maybe it’s time we looked at Rishi as the next Secretary of State for Health.

“He could potentially do a very good job there.”

However, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there were no imminent plans for a Cabinet reshuffle.

The spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have always enjoyed a close and effective working relationship, and will continue to do so.” He added: “I think you can see, particularly during the pandemic, they have worked closely together.

“They have been in lockstep throughout this incredibly challenging period for the country. There are no plans for any reshuffle.”

Kwasi Kwarteng, Business Secretary, also sought to downplay reports of a reshuffle.

Mr Kwarteng said: “He’s doing a fantastic job, he’s a very collegiate, excellent Chancellor and I think everyone in the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, is 100 per cent behind him.” He later stressed that they were a “good team”, telling LBC Radio: “I remember, as you do, Prime Ministers really having a bad time with their Chancellors and I think this combination works very well.”

Despite this, No10 and No11 are said understood to be at loggerheads over public spending, with a series of major policy decisions looming in the autumn.

Earlier this week, Tory MPS told The Telegraph that Mr Johnson would be unwise to sack Mr Sunak, who took over the role after Sajid Javid resigned in February last year. One government figure close to the Chancellor said: “If he demotes him he’s only signing his death warrant. There’s nobody else as good as Rishi.”

A Tory MP said: “To lose one Chancellor may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.”

A recent survey of Tory members put Mr Sunak’s approval rating at 74.1 percentage points.

The same survey, conducted by Conservative Home, had Mr Johnson at just 3.4 per cent.