According to polls, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has secured her lead in the race to succeed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Truss and her competitor, ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, exchanged blows in their first TV duel on Monday evening. Topics in the dispute between Truss and Sunak, broadcast by the BBC, included tax policy, dealing with China and Brexit.
Sunak criticized Truss’ plans for rapid tax cuts. “I don’t think that’s right, I don’t think that’s responsible and it’s certainly not conservative,” the Tory politician said. Tax cuts before inflation is brought under control would be like a “short-term sugar rush”.
Truss, speaking at the debate in the town of Stoke-on-Trent, countered that Sunak’s plans would plunge Britain into a “recession”. She wants to act immediately because people are struggling to make ends meet. Her rival in the race for Tory party leadership had raised taxes to “the highest rate in 70 years” as finance secretary.
Truss also accused Sunak of having taken too soft a course towards China in the past. A month ago, for example, he spoke out in favor of “closer trade relations with China”. The 46-year-old Foreign Minister commented on the fact that Sunak spoke out in favor of a tough course towards Beijing at the weekend with the words: “I am delighted that you have now followed my way of thinking.” The 42-year-old Sunak replied that Truss had an eye on him also made a change in China. She too has advocated closer ties with Beijing in the past.
MEPs from the Conservative Tory Party had chosen Sunak and Truss for the runoff for the post of party leader and thus also the head of government. All around 200,000 party members can now vote in the runoff. The result is to be announced on September 5th. So far, opinion polls see Truss clearly ahead of Sunak.
Popularity boosted by promises
According to a lightning poll after the TV debate on Monday, 47 percent of the conservative voters surveyed saw Truss as the winner, and 38 percent said Sunak’s performance was better. It was the first of three television duels within twelve days between the two applicants. During the same period, Sunak and Truss will also perform four times in front of party members. The next duel was already planned for yesterday evening.
The competition for Johnson’s successor had gradually intensified in the weeks since his resignation. Sunak is currently fighting against falling approval ratings. On the one hand, some of the party members accuse him of having contributed to the political end of the prime minister by resigning as minister at the beginning of July. Questions about potential tax avoidance from Sunak’s family and his previous decision to maintain US residency have also hurt him.
Truss had a rather weak start in the competition for the top position in the Conservatives, initially with eight applicants. She made it into the runoff with Sunak in part because she boosted her popularity with the party’s right wing with promises to cut taxes and reduce government regulation.
Johnson was forced to resign as party leader on July 7 by an internal party revolt against his much-criticized leadership, which also meant the end of his government office. However, he wants to remain prime minister until his successor is chosen. (AFP)
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