Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been accused of using Treasury graphics to promote his personal brand, after it emerged that two different versions of the same document were issued following last week's Budget. One version, sent to Conservative MPs, featured the party's logo, while the version released to the public displayed Mr Sunak's signature instead.
A Tory MP described the move as a 'blatant ploy' to bolster his political profile, saying: 'It's all about brand Rishi. All of this only makes sense if Boris was going next week. Boris isn't going anywhere, so this just annoys people.' This is not the first time Mr Sunak has replaced Conservative branding with his own; similar tactics were used when furlough was extended in November.
The incident highlights an ongoing rivalry between Mr Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, both seen as potential successors to Boris Johnson. Tory MPs have drawn comparisons to the HBO drama Succession, with the two Cabinet ministers vying for influence. Observers noted that Ms Truss gave a major interview on the same day as Mr Sunak's pre-Budget interview, and the Government Flickr account features 267 pictures of her compared to 104 of Mr Sunak.
Mr Sunak has also caused concern among some backbench Tories over the cost of the pandemic and a 'tax and spend' Budget that drew comparisons with Labour's Gordon Brown. Additionally, the Speaker of the House of Commons rebuked the Treasury for excessive media briefings before the Budget. However, a Tory source said Mr Sunak has given himself a 'get out of jail card' by pledging to lower taxes before the next election if possible.
