The Conservative leadership contender Nadhim Zahawi has said he would “certainly” offer Boris Johnson a role in his cabinet if he were to be elected the party’s next leader.
Speaking to LBC, the newly appointed chancellor described the outgoing prime minister as “a good friend” and “probably the most consequential prime minister of his generation”.
“Boris Johnson is a friend of mine of 30 years. If he wishes to serve in cabinet, I would certainly offer him a job,” he said.
Mr Zahawi later told Sky News that, despite his team being “confident” of his success in the leadership race, Rishi Sunak is “out in the lead”.
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However, he said his team believe they can make up ground.
“Colleagues will be making their minds up. There is a lot of undeclared colleagues remaining. Rishi is out in the lead, no doubt. He is a very talented man, he would make a great prime minister,” Mr Zahawi said.
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“But I think I can deliver. I am the man who has a track record of operational competence. I have the track record of delivering the [COVID] vaccine.”
He told Kay Burley: “I am the man who delivers. The next two years will be all about delivery.
“Our constituents will judge us by what we deliver.”
Mr Zahawi continued: “We’ve got two years to deliver for people to demonstrate that we are on their side.
“I will cut taxes next year, I’ll bring forward that basic rate cut down to nineteen percent, reverse the corporation tax rise – that’s really important.
“Of course, we know fuel bills are high, so I will pause VAT and the green levies for two years while still keeping an eye on making sure we meet net zero targets by 2050.
“We’ve got to invest more in defence. Two point five percent of GDP by 2025 is what I want to deliver.”
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The chancellor told Sky News his pledges are “fully costed”, adding: “I will publish them.”
“I will demonstrate where I find the headroom to deliver this next year. As we see inflation abate, the debt interest payments should also come down,” he said.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Zahawi denied he is relying on the “magic money tree” to fund his pledges to cut tax if he becomes prime minister amid questions over how his proposals, estimated to be worth around £36 billion, would be costed.
“This is a fully costed plan. You will see I demonstrated in every job I’ve had that I deliver, whether it’s vaccines, or the Department of Education,” he said.
“I will do the same thing: I will evidence it and you will see it and I will come on your programme and show it to you if I am prime minister.”
Speaking to LBC, Mr Zahawi also did not rule out scrapping the television licence fee if he becomes the next prime minister.
The first round of voting in the Conservative leadership race will take place today – and Tory MPs will be able to choose from eight contenders.
Those vying to become the party’s new leader, and the next prime minister, will need to secure at least 30 votes in order to advance to the next stage.
Today’s ballot is expected to take place between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, with the result set to be announced at 5pm.
The candidate with the lowest number of votes will drop out and further ballots will take place in the coming days.
Sky News is hosting a live TV debate with the contenders vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience.
The debate will take place on Monday 18 July hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley.
If you would like to be a member of the virtual audience and be in with a chance of asking a question, please email [email protected].
