RISHI’S REAL RUSH: Sunak’s ‘lockdown rush-back’ claim rubbished by rivals  

RISHI Sunak has been accused of misleading Tory voters over claims that he flew back from a US trip last year to stop lockdown.

Sunak, who is running against Liz Truss in the Tory leadership race made the remarks on LBC yesterday.  

He said the UK was “hours away from a press conference” announcing the measures due to the spread of the Omicron variant and claimed he “fought very hard against the system” to stop the lockdown being introduced.

The claims have been rubbished by rivals, who say he came rushing back to limit the damage from reports he was “soft on the EU”

Government insiders keen to play down suggestions of splits at the top of Cabinet.

But sources have revealed Chancellor advocated “softer approach” that took some by surprise and suggests tensions over UK negotiating stance— Harry Yorke (@HarryYorke1) December 17, 2021

Harry Yorke – deputy political editor of The Sunday Times tweeted about Rishi’s rush back in December 2021.

Exc: As the UK-EU talks on NI Protocol are pushed into the new year with significant gaps remaining, The Telegraph has learned that Rishi Sunak privately urged PM and Lord Frost not to “blow up” talks before Xmas

Latest with @Barnes_Joe @JamesCrisp6 https://t.co/x3Avgnfjh7— Harry Yorke (@HarryYorke1) December 17, 2021

A source told Politicalite: “He was on a government trip for talks with a U.S healthcare firm which David Cameron is a paid adviser and came rushing back after sources revealed Rishi’s soft approach towards the EU, which he feared the PM would blow up talks with the EU on the NI protocol.”

More follows.