U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak¡¯s decision to stake the Conservative Party¡¯s future on a rare summer election was so secret that even his chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, appeared surprised by the plan.
Hunt¡¯s allies were unaware enough of the snap election Sunak called on Wednesday that some feared a rumored big announcement meant that the chancellor was about to be replaced in a reshuffle, according to people familiar with thinking in the Treasury.
As the prime minister prepared to reveal his decision in a news conference outside 10 Downing St., Hunt was busy canceling media appearances to speak about the morning¡¯s inflation data and shortening a trip to a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers on Thursday in Italy.
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