Downing Street said Boris Johnson had “no imminent plans” to reshuffle his Cabinet after rumours spread over the weekend that the prime minister had threatened to move Rishi Sunak to health secretary.
Mr Johnson was warned he risked ending his political career by demoting the chancellor, who is seen as his most likely successor as leader of the Conservatives.
An ally of the Mr Sunak told The Telegraph an attempted move would effectively end Mr Johnson's time at the top of politics, saying: “If he demotes him he's only signing his death warrant. There's nobody else as good as Rishi.”
Meanwhile, Downing Street defended spending almost £100,000 on two sets of artwork after Labour criticised the decision to make luxury purchases at a time of public sector pay freezes and cuts to welfare spending.
