Analysis: Strength of attacks suggests they come from strong belief that frontrunner’s policies are wrong
There has been no shortage of cabinet big beasts willing to place their careers on the line for the failing Tory leadership campaign of Rishi Sunak. Michael Gove,and Matt Hancock – not to mention Sunak himself – have not held back in their aggressive criticism of Liz Truss.
Traditionally, in the dying days of a leadership contest, some of the animosity dissipates as the likely losing candidate assesses their prospects of a job in a new administration. However, Sunak and his supporters have been vehement in their attacks on Truss’s economic policies, with the strength of their criticism increasing in recent days.
Sunak has said the foreign secretary wants to “have her cake and eat it” and would plunge the country into an inflationary spiral; Gove has claimed Truss is on a “holiday from reality”; and Raab has suggested her plans for tax cuts are a “suicide note” with the wider electorate. Another of Sunak’s key supporters, Kevin Hollinrake, said Truss’s failure to deal with the energy crisis by instead pursuing tax cuts could lead some of the poorest Britons to end up “on the streets”.
Some will have their own motives and little to lose. In Gove’s case, Truss and Boris Johnson have made clear they have little love lost for him. Raab – who was succeeded by Truss as foreign secretary – is thought to have a fractious relationship with her, despite them having previously co-authored a book.Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morningNewsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our
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