How Sunak wooed the press and sparked intrigue over No 10 challenge

The chancellor held socially distanced breakfasts with key journalists, and his upbeat message struck a chord

The wave of flattering front-page headlines that followed the chancellor of the exchequer's statement outlining his autumn strategy to tackle the tottering economy screamed out from news stands across the country.

What was not known was that the often gushing coverage came after a Treasury mission to win the hearts and minds of national newspaper editors and political columnists at a crucial moment for the Conservative party.