Rishi Sunak agonising over whether to resign after fine

Rishi Sunak was agonising for hours yesterday over whether to resign after the Metropolitan Police decision to fine him for not attending Boris Johnson's lockdown-breaking party.

After the Metropolitan Police decided to issue a fixed penalty notice for attending Johnson's birthday party in the Downing Street cabinet room, the chancellor talked about his political future with aides and allies.

He was previously denied in Parliament that he attended any lock-down-breaking parties and that he was understood to have thought that he could not remain in his post.

He believed that while he could not stay on as chancellor, he would remain in politics and saw no reason why the prime minister should resign.

Friends warned him that his resignation could be considered an act of regicide against Johnson and damage any chances that Sunak might have of succeeding him.

After the police announcement of fines, Sunak put out a short statement offering an unreserved apology and saying he had decided to remain in office: I understand that for figures in public office, the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence, he said. I respect the decision that has been made and have paid the fine.

They will find this situation upsetting, because people sacrificed a great deal during Covid. I regret the frustration and anger that caused me to do so. Like the prime minister, I am focused on delivering for the British people at this challenging time. Sunak was angry that he had been fined for attending the event despite the fact that he had not been invited and had only attended because he was due to go to another meeting with Johnson, according to sources.

He is a very honourable man and feels very badly let down by being dragged into this, said one ally. It is natural for him to be thinking about what this means for him. Another said Rishi's view is that he was just there for a meeting, and now he is humiliated for something he never wanted to do. He is a man of honour and he is thinking about whether he can still be part of this. According to a separate source, Sunak was concerned that Johnson intended to move him in the next reshuffle, after being warned by Sir Lynton Crosby, the Tories election strategist, that last week s revelations about his wealth made him an electoral liability.

He is understood to think that it would be better to return to the back benches rather than be tarnished by the scandal surrounding parties.

Friends have warned him that such a move could damage any chances he might have of succeeding Johnson - even if the prime minister was forced to resign.

Some backbenchers have urged Sunak to resign, saying it would be a great move that would highlight the moral contrast between him and the prime minister. One said that despite Sunak s criticism of his wife's tax affairs, he had always been rules compliant and resigning would highlight that. A spokeswoman for Sunak didn't want to say anything.

After a hard time, the wobble comes to an end. The revelation last week that Sunak s wife Akshata Murty was a non-dom caused turmoil.

Murty issued a statement saying that her tax status was an unavoidable consequence of her Indian citizenship. Sunak s admission that he held the United States permanent resident status for almost two years was unsustainable, and Murty announced on Friday that she would pay UK taxes on all her overseas income.