- Resignation Consideration After COVID Lockdown Fine
- Influence of Media Tycoon Rupert Murdoch
- Sunak’s Decision to Remain in Downing Street
After being fined for attending Boris Johnson’s Downing Street birthday party in June 2020, Mr. Sunak resigned.
It has been claimed that executives working for media tycoon Rupert Murdoch persuaded Rishi Sunak not to resign as chancellor following his COVID lockdown fine.
After being penalised for attending the then-prime minister’s birthday party at Downing Street in June 2020. Mr. Sunak and Boris Johnson apparently circulated a draughts resignation letter with allies.
Lord William Hague, a former Conservative leader and columnist for The Times, and Lord Daniel Finkelstein, a former executive editor and current columnist for the newspaper owned by Mr. Murdoch’s News Corp., were reportedly among those with whom he spoke.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr. Sunak also discussed his potential resignation with Mas Siddiqui, an old acquaintance, former Goldman Sachs colleague, and News Corp director.
Allies of Mr. Johnson have told people that Mr. Murdoch intervened to persuade Mr. Sunak not to resign, according to the paper, reporting on claims in a new book by its political editor Ben Riley-Smith.
According to a Number 10 source, Mr. Sunak never spoke directly with Mr. Murdoch about his prospective resignation.
It is also unknown whether Mr. Murdoch directly communicated with Mr. Sunak.
According to the latest allegation, Mr. Sunak was about to retire after being sanctioned for COVID lockdown violations.
After the fixed-penalty notice was issued in April 2022, Mr. Sunak came under pressure to resign as chancellor.
He reportedly agonized over the decision for hours before deciding to remain in Downing Street alongside Mr. Johnson.
However, he resigned in July, shortly after Sajid Javid resigned as health secretary.
His resignation contributed to a widespread ministerial walkout, which ultimately led to Mr. Johnson’s resignation as prime minister.
A News UK representative declined to comment, and Mr. Johnson’s representative stated that he was unfamiliar with the account.
