Rishi Sunak today abandoned Boris Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions as the Chancellor visited Devon instead while Tory MPs steered clear of asking the PM about the Number 10 party row.
Mr Johnson was flanked by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab as he answered questions at lunchtime.
But Mr Sunak was conspicuous by his absence after he tweeted this morning that he was 'excited to be in Ilfracombe' in Devon to visit a business.
PMQs saw Mr Johnson apologise over the 'socially distanced drinks' event held in the Number 10 garden on May 20, 2020, but not a single Tory MP commented on the matter.
Instead they asked the PM questions about fossils, washing machine technology and axing the BBC licence fee.
Rishi Sunak today abandoned Boris Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions as the Chancellor visited Devon instead while Tory MPs steered clear of asking the PM about the Number 10 party row
Mr Sunak was conspicuous by his absence at PMQs after he tweeted this morning that he was 'excited to be in Ilfracombe' in Devon to visit a business
PMQs saw Mr Johnson apologise over the 'socially distanced drinks' event held in the Number 10 garden on May 20, 2020, but not a single Tory MP commented on the matter
Mr Sunak revealed in a tweet published this morning that he would not be attending PMQs as Mr Johnson braced for the toughest grilling of his premiership.
The Chancellor tweeted: 'Excited to be in Ilfracombe this morning with @SelaineSaxby.
'Im visiting @PallCorporation who protect & purify pharmaceutical drugs including a majority of UK Covid vaccines.
'They’re announcing £60 million of investment at this site creating 200 new local jobs #PlanForJobs.'
The Chancellor's aides insisted the trip had been in the Treasury diary for some time but his absence will inevitably fuel speculation of a future Tory leadership bid.
Mr Johnson was cheered by Conservative MPs when he took his seat in the House of Commons just before the start of PMQs.
But they were silent as Mr Johnson apologised over the May 20 event and said that he had 'learned enough to know that there were things we simply did not get right and I must take responsibility'.
Mr Johnson faced a battering from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer who labelled him a 'man without shame' and called on him to resign while opposition MPs also slammed the PM.
But Conservative backbenchers
