Boris: Rishi Is Loyal And We're United On Problems

As tensions are brushed aside, PM and Chancellor pledge to tackle the big issues

- Sam Lister and Macer Hall

Boris Johnson insisted yesterday he has “absolutely” no doubts about the Chancellor’s loyalty as they promised to focus together on the “big problems” impacting Britain.

Defying reports of tensions, they vowed to slash the Covid backlog of NHS waiting times. Cancer treatment delays will be slashed in the Prime Minister’s refocus on policy priorities, following Partygate scandals.

There had been claims of clashes between No10 and the Treasury, headed by Mr Sunak, over how to fund the reset. But the PM said he and the Chancellor were “working together in harmony”, focused on “clearing the Covid backlogs”.

Patients with cancer should have to wait no longer than two months for treatment by spring next year, under the “tough targets”. While the Prime Minister claimed the “vast majority” of people fearing they have the disease should be given a diagnosis within 28 days.

The move followed reports that the Treasury had held up plans to clear the NHS logjam because of concerns over value for money.

Tension boiled over last week when Mr Sunak publicly distanced himself from the Prime Minister’s attack on Sir Keir Starmer over Crown Prosecution Service failures to charge serial sex attacker Jimmy Savile when the Labour leader was Director of Public Prosecutions.

It fuelled speculation that the Chancellor is positioning himself for a Tory leadership bid.

But Treasury sources said that Mr Sunak is “working closely” with the Prime Minister to “get backlogs reduced” – and Mr Johnson went on to praise the “sound management of the economy”.

Prospects