Rishi Sunak’s misdeeds must not be glossed over

‘If Johnson goes and Sunak were to replace him, Keir Starmer would have a another readymade wounded target to torment at prime minister’s questions.’ Photograph: Dan Kitwood/PA

Simon Jenkins’ analysis sets out with clarity the trouble that Boris Johnson is in (Boris Johnson’s guilt is beyond doubt. There is no way back from this, 21 April). His treatment of Rishi Sunak, however, is inexcusably generous and looks alarmingly like support for his candidacy should Johnson do the decent thing and resign.

Jenkins describes Sunak as an inexperienced but competent chancellor who has made mistakes and faces the toughest challenge in a generation. This ignores or at best glosses over the seriousness of those mistakes: the green card, his failure to recognise or understand the desperate plight of so many, his failure to grasp the significance of his wife’s tax affairs, the disastrous spring statement etc.