Sunak on ropes on radio

RISHI Sunak yesterday hit back at billionaires abandoning the Tories by saying they “can afford Labour’s tax rises” – and he refused to rule out working with Nigel Farage after the election.

In a bruising LBC radio phonein, the Prime Minister was accused by callers of being a “pound shop Nigel Farage” over his behaviour towards the trans community, and being too rich to relate to food bank users.

He was asked about John Caudwell, Phones4U founder and a former major Tory donor, and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe throwing their weight behind Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

Mr Sunak replied: “They’re two of Britain’s richest men. They can probably afford Labour’s tax rises.”

The Prime Minister also claimed Labour wants to “whack taxes up for everyone” as he stepped up attacks on his rival’s plans in a desperate bid to shift the Tories’ stubborn double-digit poll deficit.