The Conservative leadership race to succeed Boris Johnson has heated up as MPs opposed to Rishi Sunak released a so-called “dirty dossier” designed to stop his campaign from building support.
The note, shared on the Tory WhatsApp group, reportedly attacked the former chancellor personally and accused him of having “big taxes and big spending”.
According to The Telegraph, which first reported the “dirty note”, the 424-word message against Sunak was written by someone on the Thatcherite right wing of the party.
It allegedly pointed out that Mr Sunak registered his campaign website in December, “secretly” held a US green card and cast doubt on his remarks explaining his wife’s tax-free status, as revealed by The Independent in April.
One Tory source told The Independent that the memo, shared by some MPs, was part of a campaign among the right to stop the contest becoming a “coronation” for Mr Sunak.
Tory MPs say some Johnson loyalists who remained in government posts or took ministerial posts this week were still angry at Mr Sunak for his “betrayal” in helping to oust the prime minister from No 10.
Grant Shapps appeared to attack the former chancellor in an interview with the Sunday Times. “I haven’t spent the last few tumultuous years plotting … I haven’t mobilized a leadership campaign behind his back.”
It came as loyal Johnson ally Zac Goldsmith, the fellow Conservative who remains environment secretary, attacked Mr Sunak over his environmental record.
In an astonishing outburst on Twitter, he also likened Tory leader Mark Spencer to Brazil’s populist president Jair Bolsonaro.
Lord Goldsmith claimed that Mr Spencer – one of Mr Sunak’s senior campaign backers – had been tipped for a key role as environment secretary if the former chancellor won the contest. “He will be our own little Bolsonaro,” he said.
The peer denied being motivated by hatred of Mr Sunak but attacked his record on the environment.
“If Rishi had an environmental record or made credible commitments to continue our environmental role globally, I would of course support him,” Lord Goldsmith added.
Leadership contender Sajid Javid, who left Mr Johnson’s government just minutes before Mr Sunak on Tuesday night, denied conspiring with the former chancellor to get rid of the prime minister.
Asked if he agreed to a plan with Mr Sunak, the former health secretary told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme: “Not at all… it was a decision I made.” He added: “Once you lose confidence in your boss, your prime minister, I don’t think you can hide that.’
Meanwhile, Tory campaign teams are reportedly compiling dossiers full of compromising allegations against rival candidates and their aides.
At least two rival campaign teams are said to have handed digital files to Labor full of lurid allegations against potential opponents, according to the Sunday Times – with candidates’ staff even thought to be targeted.
The files are said to include allegations of extramarital affairs, tax evasion and illegal drugs, with at least one private investigator reportedly hired to investigate the financial arrangements of some candidates.
Labor MP Chris Bryant tweeted: “The stories being circulated about the various leadership candidates are so lurid it’s hard to believe them, but even stranger is the fact that Tory MPs are spreading them. “
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