Sunak Has U.K. Tories Fearing Voter Backlash Over Cost of Living
- Chancellor criticized for not doing enough to help vulnerable
- Photo op to highlight cut in fuel duty also triggered ridicule
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Rishi Sunak’s high-spending response to the pandemic made him a front-runner in the race to succeed U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
But his decision Wednesday to bank financial firepower rather than use it to help Britons facing a record hit to living standards has taken some of the shine off. Facing a growing public backlash, even members of the ruling Conservative Party said Sunak should have done more, and some privately worried the party’s electoral prospects have been damaged.