Mr Clarke, who served as Chancellor from 1993 to 1997, said Mr Sunak can “do what he likes” because Boris Johnson can’t change Chancellor again for a “few years.” Mr Sunak replaced Sajid Javid as Chancellor last week following Mr Sajid’s decision to resign. The appointment of a new Chancellor was the major announcement of the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle. 

Mr Clarke told the BBC’s Newsnight: “I mean if I were Rishi, I would now be settling down to think I’ve got a long period as Chancellor.

“A huge opportunity.

“I can do what I like really because the Prime Minister can’t possibly change Chancellor again for a few years.

“So what you’re aiming at is what’s it all going to look like in three or four years’ time? 

“He’ll want a reputation as a good, successful Chancellor.”

He continued: “In terms of winning votes actually, north or south, you need to look to three or four years ahead.

“You will win votes when votes next matter if people look back and say well he didn’t do a bad job really.

“The Chancellor was very competent, seemed to know what he was doing.

“The economy is okay, my prospects aren’t too bad.

“If you live in the north, things are picking up a bit.

“That should be your guiding light through the first budget.”

Last week Tom Newton Dunn told the BBC’s Politics Live that Mr Javid will now be the “official voice of the opposition” within the Conservative Party following his resignation as Chancellor. 

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“Sajid Javid is now going to be the official voice of opposition in the Conservative Party for fiscal restraint.

“There are a lot of Tories who are already uncomfortable about these big spending sprees piling up huge amounts of money up north.

“The Conservative Party is not the party of big spenders.

“Maybe Sajid Javid will wander off into the wilderness of the backbenches quietly, maybe he won’t.”

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