Sunak backs Boris in attempt to unify Conservatives

It is yet another reminder of his extraordinary rise that Rishi Sunak’s conference speech today was only his first as Chancellor. Already, he has presided over an historic economic crisis, one in which millions of people face the prospect of unemployment yet has simultaneously become the most popular politician in the country.

Perhaps more importantly, for his future prospects, he is also a favourite among the Conservative Party grassroots. Sunak has a +82 net satisfaction rating among Conservative members, compared with -10 for Boris Johnson.

Aware of these facts, and eager not to intimidate the Prime Minister so early in their partnership, Sunak began his speech with a statement of support for Johnson. “I’ve seen up close the burden the Prime Minister carries. We all know he has an ability to connect with people in a way that few politicians manage. It is a special and rare quality. But what the commentators don’t see… is the concern and care he feels for people every day, for the wellbeing of every person in our country.”

Sunak added: “Yes, it’s been difficult. Challenges are part of the job. But on the big calls, in the big moments, Boris Johnson has got it right and that is the leadership we need.”

This pointed statement put to rest the suggestion that the Chancellor was going to use the speech to take a more aggressive stance against Johnson’s handling of the virus. It is an open secret that Sunak is an activist in cabinet for reopening the economy, and that he’s been frustrated by Johnson’s hard-suppression approach, but this tension did not come across this morning.

Instead, there was a broad, unifying message from the rising star. Scottish Conservatives received a reassurance of Sunak’s belief “in the unbreakable bond of the Union that unites the four nations of our United Kingdom.” This came after Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross last week lambasted his party for “doing the SNP’s work for them” by “treating Scottish independence as a question of when and not if.”

Fiscal conservatives also received a nod, with Sunak promising to get borrowing and debt under control over the medium term. “We have a sacred responsibility to future generations to leave the public finances strong, and through careful management of our economy, this Conservative government will always balance the books,” the Chancellor said.

There was even an attempt to reach out to Cameronite Conservatives, with Sunak praising George Osborne and Philip Hammond. The video live-feed momentarily cut off at this point, however.

Sunak ended the speech as he began, attempting to rally his increasingly divided party with a message that few of his colleagues could argue with. “The British people and British businesses won’t give up,” he said. I know this because of what I said at the beginning. We share the same values. The Conservative party and the country. And these values are not devoid of meaning to people.”

This rather mundane outing has laid the groundwork for Boris Johnson’s big speech tomorrow morning, which will attempt to unify the Conservatives ahead of both a potential second wave of coronavirus and the impending Brexit deadline.