Truss v Rishi – Boris in the firing line as successors start ‘manoeuvres’ to replace him

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BORIS JOHNSON is facing a leadership crisis after his successors have started “manoeuvres” to replace him as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has faced calls to resign from opposition parties and from members of his own party. Mr Johnson is facing increasing pressure after it was revealed there were several parties in Downing Street during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Brexit minister Liz Truss are the favoured candidates to replace Mr Johnson as Prime Minister and leader of the party.

Now, according to Politico, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss are on “manoeuvres” to oust the Prime Minister.

Some members of the Tory Party have predicted an attempt to remove Mr Johnson by next summer.

One former minister told Politico: “There are a small number of Truss-ites, but they tend to be the lunatic fringe.”

A serving frontbencher added: “Boris doesn’t mind them doing a bit of peacocking — it’s better to keep the two of them level-pegging because then they fight each other.”

According to Politico, another senior Conservative said allowing Ms Truss the Brexit reins will be “brilliant for Boris”.

They added he is “now forcing her to dip her hands in the blood” in the ongoing negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed in the Brexit deal in 2020.

In August, a Conservative Home poll found Mr Sunak was the most favoured to move from No11 to No10.

But the Chancellor has dropped down the rankings in a new poll, with Ms Truss – who took on Brexit negotiations after Lord Frost resigned- surging past him.

According to the new poll, Ms Truss is leading 23 percent (181 votes) to Mr Sunak’s 20 percent (161) in the self-selected survey of Tory members.

Although Mr Sunak has dropped down in the Conservative Home poll, the Chancellor is still favourite to take over in the betting market.

According to a survey by Oddschecker, the Chancellor has a 32 percent chance of being the next leader, while Ms Truss has 17 percent chance

Source: Express.co.uk

 

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