By Anna Mikhailova Deputy Political Editor For The Mail On Sunday
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Boris Johnson likes to appoint men of stature to the Treasury.
But it’s not the size of their character that appeals to the Prime Minister, but their physical presence, one observer has claimed.
A senior MP says that the PM is deliberately appointing tall Ministers to annoy his image-conscious Chancellor, who stands just 5ft 6in tall.
In last month’s reshuffle, Mr Johnson appointed 6ft 5in Simon Clarke as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
An MP said the PM appoints tall Ministers to annoy Rishi Sunak, who is 5ft 6in tall. Pictured L-R: James Cartlidge, Lord Agnew, Jesse Norman, Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Stephen Barclay, Claire Coutinho and John Glenn
The 37-year-old Teessider is one of the tallest MPs in the Commons, and joins a No 11 team that also includes Economic Secretary John Glen, another MP who towers over 6ft.
Other recent Treasury appointees have included Stephen Barclay and Jesse Norman, another two of the tallest Parliamentarians, although both have now moved on.
The MP said Mr Johnson – who is 5ft 10in – is deliberately playing on Rishi Sunak’s ‘insecurity’ over his height and making the Chancellor, who is regularly touted as his successor for the Tory leadership, look shorter in photographs.
The Chancellor has used clever visual tricks when pictured with his ministerial team – most famously his pre-Budget photograph at the top of the staircase in Downing Street with his taller Ministers below him, making them appear smaller.
In last month’s reshuffle, Mr Johnson appointed 6ft 5in Simon Clarke as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Pictured L-R: Rishi Sunak, Steve Barclay, Kemi Badenoch, Jesse Norman, John Glen, Theodore Agnew, Claire Coutinho, James Cartledge, Craig Williams and David Rutley
Mr Sunak is also noted for wearing shortened trouser hems in his £1,300 tailored suits, which can make him appear taller.
Allies of Mr Sunak said he does not have any insecurity over his height and that photoshoots that make him look taller are masterminded by his advisers.
Meanwhile, a Tory MP said Mr Sunak should only worry about the size of his tax bills: ‘He can’t keep saying he is a low-tax Chancellor and keep raising taxes all the time.’
Indeed height is no bar to leadership: Mr Johnson’s hero, Winston Churchill, was just 5ft 5in.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group