It was a clever ruse that critics claim betrays Rishi Sunak’s ambitions to become the next Prime Minister.
Two versions of Treasury graphics were released by the Chancellor after last week’s Budget. They highlight his announcements.
The one sent out to Tory MPs bore a Tory Party logo. Those shown to the public, however, had Mr Sunak’s signature.
Last night, one Tory MP said it was a blatant ploy by him to increase his political profile. They said, “It’s all brand Rishi.”
“All this would make sense if Boris went next week. Boris isn’t moving anywhere, so this is just annoying people.
It was a sleight of hand that critics say betrays the depth of Rishi Sunak’s ambitions to be the next Prime Minister (bottom right shows Conservative logo version sent to Tory MPs)
After his Budget last week, the Chancellor issued two different versions of Treasury graphics highlighting his announcements (bottom right shows Rishi Sunak’s signature version shown to public)
This is not the first time Mr Sunak has been caught replacing Conservatives’ branding by his own.
Promotional images that promoted furlough were made using the Conservative tree logo but with his name underneath.
This latest move is part in a heated dispute between Liz Truss, Foreign Minister Liz Truss and the Chancellor about who might succeed Boris Johnson.
The rivalry has been compared with the power struggle in Succession on HBO, where Kendall Roy (the scheming heir obvious) vies against sister Shiv to win Logan Roy’s crown.
Tory MPs fear the dark saga of the power-hungry siblings – and their respective camps of loyalists – is almost matched by the ambitions of the two Cabinet rivals.
Just hours after Mr Sunak, Budget Red Box in hand and standing outside No 11 on Wednesday morning, appeared a striking article in The Times about Ms Truss’s power dressing.
Observers couldn’t help but note the timing of the feature, not least because Ms Truss had chosen to give her first major interview as Foreign Secretary to The Telegraph last Saturday – on the same day Mr Sunak gave his pre-Budget interview.
Traditionally, Government media handles leave the weekend to the Chancellor.
Aides to several Cabinet Ministers stated that they were avoiding making announcements to overshadow the Treasury. So eyebrows were raised when Ms Truss’ interview was published.
The Budget was being finalized and the Cabinet rivals were described by one another as being on ‘constant maneuvers’.
Anonymous reports that the Chancellor has been ‘unashamedly’ building support among grassroots MPs prompted sources close to Mr Sunak to point out that Ms Truss has been wooing ‘Red Wallers’ with dinners at 5 Hertford Street, a £2,850-a-year private members’ club.
Westminster insiders claim that a small number of female MPs are being invited to the so-called “Fizz With Liz” nights. Allies however claim that many Cabinet Ministers entertain MPs after taking on new roles. A source close to Ms Truss stated that there is clearly some rivalry [with Mr Sunak]But, any [leadership]Contest is so far away.
The one sent out to Tory MPs featured the Conservative Party logo (bottom left shows the Conservative logo).
But the ones shown to the public were signed by Mr Sunak (bottom right shows Rishi Sunak’s Signature).
Backbench Tories are grumbling about Mr Sunak’s cost of the pandemic as well as a ‘tax-and-spend’ Budget that draws comparisons to Labour’s Gordon Brown.
They were not impressed by the tidal of media briefings just before the Budget, which drew a harsh rebuke form Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Using language that could have come from the ruthless Logan Roy, one MP said: ‘The Treasury f***** up big time in the briefing. They overdid it.
It affects everyone. The Speaker then sanctions the Government for its misbehavior. It was not necessary.
Another Tory source claimed that Mr Sunak had offered himself a get out of jail card’ among Conservatives by promising to lower taxes in the future Election.
Ms. Truss has not wasted any time in leveraging her new position. The Government Flickr account featured 267 photos of her and 104 pictures of Mr Sunak.
Her brand will only grow after No. 10 agreed to hire an Instagram guru.
Mr Sunak, who hired Cass Horowitz as a social media expert last year, is the only Minister without an image consultant.
Ms Truss is also trying to make friends with the Foreign Office.
Sources said that Liz knows how she should treat her colleagues. It’s one of her greatest strengths.