Rishi Sunak is the most popular Chancellor since Gordon Brown was in charge at No 11 in the early Noughties, a new poll suggests. Just after revealing his 30billion rescue package, the Chancellor's current rating reached heights not seen since New Labour 15 years ago. Five times as many people approve than disapprove of the measures announced in Mr Sunaks statement this week, with 59 percent now thinking he is doing a good job as Chancellor.

It makes him very easily the most well-liked politician to hold the role since Mr Brown in the run up to the 2005 election, when his approval rating peaked at 67 percent.

The British public largely welcomed six of the key policies announced on Wednesday, with a staggering 80 percent backing the VAT cut in the hospitality sector and the minimum wage apprenticeship scheme for 16 to 24 year-olds.

Mr Sunaks poll ratings throughout the coronavirus crisis also suggest he is the most popular politician in the country.

As many wonder whether he will be the next Prime Minister, unearthed reports shed light on the time George Osborne was leading the Treasury.

According to a throwback report by the Daily Express, just before the 2016 EU referendum, Mr Osborne announced he was planning to impose punishing tax hikes and spending cuts if voters decided to quit the EU.

However, the former Chancellor's plans were met with fury with several Tory MPs saying his credibility had been destroyed.

Sixty-five Tory MPs signed a joint statement opposing Mr Osbornes plans for a Brexit emergency Budget of extreme austerity measures, effectively killing any prospect of getting such a package through the Commons.

The statement said: If he were to proceed with these proposals, the Chancellors position would become untenable.

Privately, senior Tories called for Mr Osborne to be removed from the Treasury following the EU referendum, whatever the result, because of his scaremongering.

One senior Tory said: Osborne is finished. He cannot deliver another Budget. His credibility is destroyed.

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Another one added: The Chancellors reputation has been hugely damaged.

And in a BBC Question Time special, Cabinet minister Michael Gove refused to say whether he wanted Mr Obsorne to stay as Chancellor after the vote.

Asked if he would back Mr Osbornes planned Brexit Budget, Mr Gove said: No.

When asked if he thought Mr Osborne should keep his job he avoided the question and refused to lend support.

Mr Osborne stood shoulder to shoulder with former Labour Chancellor Lord Alistair Darling to sound the alarm about potential economic impact from Brexit.

Speaking at a Hitachi train plant in Ashford, Kent, they claimed a Brexit-triggered slump could have left a 30billion hole in public finances that could have only been filled by tax rises and spending cuts.

Mr Osborne said: A vote to leave would hurt businesses, hurt investment and cost jobs. There would be difficult decisions decisions that begin next Friday.

There would have to be an emergency Budget to fill a 30billion black hole.

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Today we are setting out the difficult decisions we would have to take.

Under his plans, the basic rate of income tax would have risen from 20p to 22p, the middle income rate by 3p to 43p and inheritance tax would have soared.

Tory MPs warned the proposals would scrap a string of manifesto pledges including vows not to raise income tax or cut NHS spending.

Ex-ministers Liam Fox, Iain Duncan Smith, Cheryl Gillan and John Redwood signed the statement condemning a Brexit Budget.

It said: We find it incredible the Chancellor could seriously be threatening to renege on so many pledges.

If the Chancellor is serious we cannot possibly allow this to go ahead.

Mr Duncan Smith added: Of all the things the Remain camp has done, this is probably the most bizarre and the most ridiculous. Its shocking behaviour, more irresponsible than Ive seen from any Chancellor at any time.

"He appears to be talking the economy down in the hope that it will panic everybody, panic the markets and force people to vote Remain because theyll be so scared.

Mr Osborne resigned from the Government after the Brexit referendum, hours after the departure of David Cameron as Prime Minister.

The rest is here:

Brexit civil war: How Chancellor was 'finished' after 30billion 'tax and axe' threat - Daily Express