Allies of Tory leadership favourite Rishi Sunak boasted he would 'wipe the floor' with rival Liz Truss yesterday, branding her backers 'headbangers'.
But furious supporters of the Foreign Secretary fired back, highlighting the Chancellor's 'so clever' decision to miss last week's Commons apology by Boris Johnson by going on a much-derided trip to Devon instead.
The briefing war erupted as MPs close to the Prime Minister took aim at both potential contenders, claiming Mr Sunak resisted 'huge pressure' to back Mr Johnson but also casting doubt on Ms Truss's leadership credentials.
Tory insiders claim both have leadership operations 'in all but name' ready to go if Mr Johnson is forced out, with one MP noting how the Chancellor had only last week hastily arranged three meetings with Tory backbenchers to discuss 'rising energy bills'.
Last night, one of Mr Sunak's allies poured derision on Ms Truss's prospects.
Allies of Tory leadership favourite Rishi Sunak (pictured) boasted he would 'wipe the floor' with rival Liz Truss yesterday, branding her backers 'headbangers'
He branded many of her backers 'headbangers' and added: 'When you've got Therese Coffey and Andrea Leadsom as your main backers, you've got a problem.'
He added: 'When Rishi gets out there and the media get hold of Rishi vs Liz Truss, he is going to wipe the floor with her. He is so much better.'
The Sunak ally insisted the Chancellor, 41, was not running a leadership campaign, saying that to do anything 'organised' now with Mr Johnson still in No 10 would be 'curtains'.
But he implied that the Foreign Secretary's camp was doing just that, saying: 'That's Truss's problem – she's too eager.'
The attack sparked a furious response last night, with a source close to Work and Pensions Secretary Ms Coffey
