It came as Tory MPs told the Independent that many of those who remained in government jobs or accepted ministerial posts this week were angry at Mr Sunak for his “betrayal” in helping to oust Mr Johnson from No 10. The transport secretary, opening his bid by saying he still subscribes to “Johnsonism”, defended his loyalty to the prime minister and condemned those who turned against him despite “benefiting from his patronage”. In scathing comments to The Times, Mr Shapps said: “I have not spent the last tumultuous years plotting or informing against the Prime Minister. I have not mobilized a leadership campaign behind his back.” Nadhim Zahawi, Mr Sunak’s replacement as chancellor, also announced his bid to become the next prime minister by pledging on Saturday to cut taxes and boost defense spending. It followed Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announcing he would not stand, despite being a favorite of the Tory base, saying he wanted to focus on his job “keeping this country safe”. The Independent understands that Mr Wallace will not be endorsing anyone at this stage of the contest. But his supporters said many of the MPs who wanted to see him become prime minister are angry with Mr Sunak and are unlikely to transfer support to the former chancellor. Mr Sunak won the endorsement of several more MPs on Saturday, including Northern Ireland select committee chairman Simon Hoare and former Tory deputy leader Bim Afolami, pushing him ahead with 17 endorsements. But challenger Suella Braverman’s campaign has regained some mature momentum, with right-wingers such as Steve Baker, Desmond Swayne and Richard Drax flocking to her campaign promise to deliver “serious” tax cuts. In his slick campaign launch video on Friday, Mr. Sunak doubled down on his reputation as a fiscally balancing conservative with a warning against “fairy tale” promises. In a sign that most candidates will use the tax issue to join the former chancellor, Mr Shapps also promised a “clear path to lower taxes”. And Mr Zahawi pledged to cut taxes for individuals, families and businesses – claiming he was the right person to “stabilize the economy”. It came as the Independent revealed that Inland Revenue experts are still investigating Mr Zahawi’s tax affairs. HMRC became involved after investigations into Mr Zahawi’s finances were launched by the National Crime Agency in 2020. A senior Whitehall source confirmed the tax investigation is currently “unresolved”. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is set to jump straight into the competition, has also said she wants to see lower taxes. The Mail on Sunday reported that he would pledge to reverse the rise in Mr Sunak’s national insurance. Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has pledged to cut taxes as leader (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Tom Tugendhat also won more supporters, with some sympathetic MPs claiming he was winning more support than rival Jeremy Hunt in his bid to represent the moderate wing of the One Nation party. Penny Mordaunt received several endorsements from senior figures on Saturday – including Sir Charles Walker and Caroline Dinenage – although she is yet to declare her candidacy. But Ms Mordaunt, a staunch Brexiteer, is struggling to win support from the right wing of the party for her stance on trans rights, according to an MP. Some campaigners shared her statement that “trans women are women and trans men are men” while equalities minister in 2018. Kemi Badenoch, who announced her bid for leader in an op-ed for The Times, made it clear she wanted to be seen as the anti-awakening candidate with an attack on “identity politics” and left-wing “social justice” rhetoric. . . One Nation moderates told The Independent they were hopeful the campaign could draw a line under a long, divisive period of Brexit battles and culture war issues pushed by Johnson allies such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries. Stephen Hammond – a senior figure in the One Nation group which supports Mr Tugendhat – said it was vital to make a fresh start so that the government was seen “as a government with integrity so we can regain confidence” as well as ” one that is capable.” Grandee Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he was optimistic that the key issue in the race would be personal integrity and the candidates’ ability to convince the nation that they offer a new beginning. He said the leadership should go to someone who is not “tainted” by a close relationship with Mr Johnson, so the caretaker prime minister’s tenure in No 10 looks “an interim, rather than a fundamental malaise in the Conservative Party”. Tory MP David Mundell mourned Mr Wallace’s departure. He said the defense minister had “dignity and integrity” and displayed “calm competence, compared to the drama of recent months”. Meanwhile, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Commission, said the rules could be changed as early as next week to reduce the crowded field and speed up the process. He told Times Radio that this could be done by increasing the number of signatures from MPs required to be nominated and raising the threshold of votes candidates must receive to advance to the next round. To take part, candidates need eight nominations. Candidates must then garner 5 percent of the vote to remain in the running – 18 votes – in the first round. They must get 10 percent, 36 MPs, in the second round. The candidate with the fewest votes is then eliminated until two candidates remain. It came as a spokesman for Mr Johnson said whispers he planned to quit as caretaker prime minister on Monday to run again for Tory leader were completely untrue.
