British prime minister Boris Johnson is said to have been furious over a letter being leaked to the media last week, which claimed his chancellor Rishi Sunak had written to push for easier international COVID-19 travel norms ahead of a planned review.
The reaction followed media reports that Sunak had written to his boss, calling for a significant easing of the coronavirus travel restrictions, warning that they were damaging the economy.
According to The Sunday Times, which reported on the letter last Sunday, Johnson is said to have been “apoplectic” with anger and even suggested a demotion for Sunak from the powerful treasury department to take charge of health.
“The problem was that the first Johnson knew of the letter was when details of it appeared in the media,” the report said.
Quoting a senior source from a meeting, it said that Johnson then went on to say in the presence of around a dozen officials that he had been thinking about a change.
“'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 source said.
The newspaper pointed out that Johnson is known for his “off-the-cuff” remarks, often made in jest.
While Downing Street refused to comment on “private conversations”, allies of Sunak insisted he remains focussed on his current brief to revive the COVID-hit UK economy.
“The chancellor is solely focused on securing the country’s economic recovery and continuing to protect and create jobs,” ITV News quoted a treasury department source as saying.
Meanwhile, Sunak is preparing for a tough budget, known as the autumn spending review, in the coming weeks.
There have been reports of how this has put him on a collision course with his boss Johnson, who is determined on spending on projects while budgets remain constrained due to the costs incurred due to the pandemic.
Reports of clashes between No. 10 and No. 11 Downing Street – the office of the UK prime minister and chancellor respectively – have been doing the rounds for some time, amid the economic pressures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
However, it is generally believed that a cabinet reshuffle is not on the cards for the coming months.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)