A furious Boris Johnson reportedly threatened to demote Chancellor Rishi Sunak following a row over the relaxation of Covid travel rules.
The Prime Minister suggested the move after the leak of a letter from the Chancellor calling for the easing of travel restrictions ahead of the relaxations announced on Wednesday, the Sunday Times has reported.
Sunak warned the restrictions were damaging the economy and left the UK at a disadvantage to EU nations.
However Mr Johnson is said to have known nothing about the letter until it appeared in the media, the Mirror reports.
He was reportedly furious at the leak and considered the letter was trying to push him into action.
A source told the newspaper: “He said: ‘I’ve been thinking about it. Maybe it’s time we looked at Rishi as the next secretary of state for health. He could potentially do a very good job there.’
“In an open meeting, after ranting about Rishi, he then suggested the Chancellor could be demoted in the next reshuffle.”
The newspaper reported that Mr Johnson is not expected to carry out his threat and noted the Prime Minister’s reputation for off-the-cuff remarks made “half in jest”.
Allies of Mr Sunak have insisted he is focused on the health of the economy.
A Treasury source said: “The Chancellor is solely focused on securing the country’s economic recovery and continuing to protect and create jobs.”
Although a reshuffle is not expected imminently, the Sunday Times reported that Mr Johnson has previously considered International Trade Secretary Liz Truss as a potential chancellor, with Jacob Rees-Mogg as her deputy.
“The PM keeps talking about Liz Truss,” a source said. “He’s always got on quite well with her. He thinks she’s controllable.”
Earlier this week the Government announced a series of updates to its green, amber and red lists in the latest round of travel rule changes.
There are seven new additions to the green list – Austria, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia – meaning that Brits returning to England after 4am on August 8 will not be required to quarantine.
Rules for France have also changed meaning travellers will not need to self-isolate back in the UK, provided they are double jabbed.
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