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UK finance minister Sunak, 39, next in line to lead country after Raab

07 April 2020 20:15 (UTC +04:00)

British finance minister Rishi Sunak would take responsibility for leading the country if Dominic Raab, currently standing in for hospitalised Prime Minister Boris Johnson, were also incapacitated, APA reports citing Reuters.

Johnson spent a night in intensive care receiving oxygen treatment following his admission to hospital with a persistent high temperature and cough, more than a week after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

Foreign minister Raab has taken over some of the British leader’s responsibilities, including chairing the government’s daily meeting on the coronavirus crisis, although the 55-year Johnson remains prime minister.

“There is an established order of precedence,” Johnson’s spokesman said. “In line with the order of precedence, the Chancellor (Sunak) would follow from the Foreign Secretary.”