Boris Johnson is said to have disagreed with his chancellor over growth plans. Photo: Jonathan Brady/pa
Rishi Sunak forced Boris Johnson into a tax on oil and gas windfalls, said former Downing Street political strategist.
Guto Harry said Mr Johnson “didn't wanted to pay a windfall tax” and that there was a long-standing struggle between the then prime minister and his chancellor over tax policy, culminating in Mr. Sunak's resignation last summer.
From February to September last year Mr Harry has served as Head of Communications for Mr Johnson and has produced a podcast series about his experiences at Downing Street.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he said “there was tension very, very early” between Mr. Johnson and Mr. Sunak “due to the lack of a growth plan and economic policy direction.”
“In short , basically Boris wanted to deliver what the party was screaming for, and that explains why Liz Truss won the leadership election.” He said. "Boris wasn't going to give away all of Liz Truss, all of your Christmases in one go.
“But less regulation, cuts in some taxes, no corporate tax. He didn't want to pay windfall tax. Ideally, he would like to see some reduction in VAT, not only because it eases the tax burden, but also because it demonstrates the freedom you got after Brexit. oil and gas companies, which was announced in May 2022, Mr Harry said: “Yes, to a large extent.”
A government spokesman said: “Through the tax on energy profits, we ensure that energy profits, which have been artificially high since the Russian war in Ukraine, are used to ease the pressure on families. We are helping to keep energy bills down and fund £94bn of support this year and last.”
Sunak under fire over election
The revelation came on Saturday as Mr Sunak’s leadership came under fire criticized after the party's weak results in local elections.
At the founding conference of the Conservative Democratic Organization, a pressure group set up by Johnson supporters to overhaul the Tory Party, members lined up to criticize the prime minister.
Lord Cruddas, the billionaire Tory sponsor, said at the event. in Bournemouth, he feared that the Tories were “going over to the centre-left or higher-taxed Social Democratic party”, which would “lead to the destruction of the Conservative Party”.
Nadine Dorris, a former culture secretary, said the Tories no longer had an “inspirational leader” and Claire Bullivant, the CDO's chief executive, said she would support Johnson's return. “If we brought Boris back for the next election, we would have a chance.” she said.
But a former cabinet minister who supports Johnson told the Telegraph they doubt Mr. Sunak could be replaced before the election. “He poisoned the well so badly that he told all the backbenchers, ‘If you get rid of me, there will be a general election and you will all die,’” they said. “So I don't see a natural movement in that direction.” Meanwhile, Andrea Jenkins, a former minister, said the Tory parliamentary party had been infiltrated by the Liberal Democrats. At the CDO conference, she said: “I look back at my colleagues and I think you really belong to the Liberal Democrats.”
Commenting on the results of the local elections, a source in the don't vote conservative. We must give them a reason. We must try harder"
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