Head-to-head sees open arguments over tax and identity politics, with no candidate willing to say Boris Johnson is honest
race has exploded into acrimony and recrimination after the first televised debate saw open arguments over tax and identity politics with also none of the five candidates willing to say Boris Johnson is honest.a sudden announcement
“There is no such thing as Covid debt,” a visibly irritated Sunak told the foreign secretary. “Debt is debt. And the answer to too much borrowing can’t be yet more borrowing. It’s as simple as that.” A separate show of hands after a debate on energy bills saw just three people say they felt politicians were doing enough to help people. When asked at the end of the debate if it had made them more likely to vote Conservative, only 10 of the audience raised their hands.
So far, two rounds of voting among Tory MPs – who are gradually reducing the field down to a final two, with a winner then decided by party members – has seen Sunak gain the most support, followed by Mordaunt, Truss, Badenoch and then Tugendhat. In an earlier Zoom-based Q&A, hosted by the Conservative Home website, Truss sought to regain the initiative in the race by promising to scrap a planned rise in corporation tax and suspend green energy levies, costing more than £20bn a year overall.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rishi Sunak wins first round of Tory contest to succeed Boris JohnsonThe former chancellor won 88 votes, but lesser known dark-horse challenger Penny Mordaunt won 67 and is snapping at his heels.
Read more »
Who should succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader? Our panel’s verdictWith six candidates still standing, our panellists discuss who would make the best – or least worst – prime minister
Read more »
The Guardian view on the Tory contenders: a parade of denial | EditorialEditorial: A leadership contest that fails to confront the truth about Johnson’s legacy will not produce a worthy prime minister
Read more »
Suella Braverman out of Tory leadership race as Rishi Sunak leads with 101 votes - liveLatest updates: 1922 committee announce latest vote tally
Read more »
Liz Truss ‘ready to be PM’ as she tries to reboot flagging Tory leadership bidForeign secretary portrays herself as ‘ready to be PM from day one’ in clear dig at rival Penny Mordaunt
Read more »
Liz Truss under pressure as rivals steal march in Tory leadership raceForeign secretary forced to regroup after trailing behind Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt after first round ballot
Read more »