George Osborne said Rishi Sunak had made a “mistake” by failing to attend the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, this week.
The former chancellor said the Prime Minister could have been telling business chiefs and world leaders a “good story about his premiership” but he had instead “left the field open to Labour”.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds attended the event. Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, and Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, have represented the Government.
Mr Osborne told his Political Currency podcast: “If anything, the absence of the Conservative ministers, with the notable exception of my friend David Cameron who’s been here as the Foreign Secretary, but of course, he’s not in the House of Commons – the absence of Conservative ministers and the deliberate absence of Rishi Sunak, which I personally think is a mistake, I think he should be here.
“I mean this is his natural environment. He could be telling a good story about his premiership if he was here, has left the field open to Labour.
“And it really feels like here at this global gathering, it’s the Labour Party rather than the Conservatives who have been kind of grabbing the microphone for Britain.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
