Nadhim Zahawi has denied he threatened to resign from Boris Johnson’s cabinet if were not to be offered the Chancellor position if it was to be vacated.
As reported by The Independent, the newly appointed Chancellor took the time to respond to those claims as Boris Johnson's government was dealt a blow due to the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
Speaking on Sky News Mr Zahawi said: "No I didn’t threaten to resign at all”.
Put to him that Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, was reportedly in line for the role as Chancellor, and Mr Zahawi had said he would step down if he did not get the job, he told Sky News: “That is not true”.
“This is a team game, you play for the team, you deliver for the nation. My focus has to be about delivery.
“Sometimes walking away may give you some respite — dare I say it — but the idea you have to deliver for the country, the country that has given me everything, is the right thing to do.”
Alongside this Mr Zahawi said his focus is on rebuilding the economy after the pandemic and tackling the “challenge” of “deeply damaging” inflation in 2023.
He said he will also be “bearing down on taxes”, referring to the reduction in national insurance payments introduced for some workers on Wednesday.
Mr Zahawi has been replaced as education secretary by former higher and further education minister Michelle Donelan.
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