Conservative Party leadership - live: Sunak and Truss in Birmingham as contest reaches final stages
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With only a week and a half until the next Prime Minister of the UK is announced, the finish line for the Tory leadership contest is in sight.
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have been fighting for the past two months to prove that Conservative Party members should lend their vote to them, and now they are in their last round of appearances to make the final push.
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Hide AdThe candidiates found themselves in Birmingham for the latest round of hustings.
Ms Truss and Mr Sunak once again clashed heads on their plans for combating the rising cost of living.
Ms Truss backed her tax-cutting plan, saying: “I give you the example of Britain where we cut corporation tax and we saw revenues increase.
“There is an example of where cutting taxes actually helped us attract more revenue into the Treasury and more growth into the economy.
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Hide Ad“This whole language of ‘unfunded’ tax cuts implies the static model, the so-called abacus economics that the Treasury orthodoxy has promoted for years, but it hasn’t worked in our economy because what we have ended up with is high tax, high spending and low growth.
“That is not a sustainable model for Britain’s future.”
Mr Sunak took aim at his opponent’s plans, saying: “I think unfunded tax cuts are wrong and do you know what? Her [Margaret Thatcher] chancellor Nigel Lawson agrees with me, the head of her policy unit agrees with me, Norman Lamont agrees with me.
“All of these people who understood Margaret Thatcher’s economics are supporting my economic plan because it is the right one for our country and it is a Conservative approach to managing the economy.”
Ms Truss also refused to answer whether or not she would introduce a new ethics adviser if she were to be voted into power.
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Hide AdWhen asked, the Foreign Secretary said: “I would put in place, if I was elected as prime minister, a strong chief whip.
“I would return them to Number 12 Downing Street so they are at the heart of Government and making sure there is zero tolerance of misbehaviour.”
She added: “I do think one of the problems we have got in this country in the way we approach things is we have numerous advisers and independent bodies, and rules and regulations.
“For me it’s about understanding the difference between right and wrong, and I am somebody who has always acted with integrity, I have always been clear about what I will do, I have followed through on my promises and been honest about the situation, and that is what I would do as prime minister.”
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Hide AdWho is favourite to win the contest?
Currently, Ms Truss is favourite to win the Tory leadership contest, with Paddy Power currently giving odds of 1/50 for the Foreign Minister becoming party leader and Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak’s odds currently sit at 10/1.
Latest updates on Tory leadership race
PM claims he has not been following Tory leadership contest closely as he faces PMQs
Boris Johnson claimed he has not been following the Tory leadership contest closely, as he faced questions about the candidates pulling out of a televised debate.
Opening what could be their final Prime Minister’s Questions exchange, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the relationship between a prime minister and leader of the opposition was “never easy”, adding: “This one has proved no exception to the rule.”
He asked: “Why does the Prime Minister think that those vying to replace him decided to pull out of the Sky debate last night?”
The Prime Minister replied:
“Well, I am not following this thing particularly closely, but my impression is that there has been quite a lot of debate already and I think the public are having an ample opportunity to view the talent.”
Mr Johnson added that any of the candidates would “wipe the floor” with Sir Keir, likening them to “some household detergent”.
Rishi Sunak: UK should be self-sufficient in energy production by 2045
The UK should be self-sufficient in energy production by 2045, Rishi Sunak said in the latest policy announcement of his leadership campaign.
But the former chancellor said he would scrap a plan to relax the ban on new onshore wind farms in England, instead focusing on offshore turbines.
Under his plan a new “energy sovereignty” target for 2045 would be written in to law.
An energy security committee would co-ordinate action to keep power stations online, protect gas reserves and reform markets to cut consumers’ bills.
A dedicated energy ministry would be formed by breaking up the current Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
“As energy bills skyrocket in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has never been more important that our country achieves energy sovereignty, so that we’re no longer reliant on the volatility of the global energy supply.
“That’s why as Prime Minister I would introduce an ambitious new plan to make the UK energy independent, investing in vital new technologies. “
David Davis accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘relocating’ votes to Liz Truss
David Davis has accused Rishi Sunak’s campaign of relocating Tom Tugendhat’s votes to Liz Truss.
The former cabinet minister, who has supported Penny Mordaunt’s campaign to be the next Tory leader, claimed that Mr Sunak did so as he believes Ms Truss would be easier to beat in the run-off vote.
Speaking to LBC Radio, he said: “Rishi just reallocated some. He’s got his four or five chief whips that he has in a boiler room somewhere, reallocated them (to Ms Truss) … He wants to fight Liz, because she’s the person who will lose the debate with him”.
“Presumably what Rishi thinks is that he can take apart Liz’s economic patch…”
Kemi Badenoch thanks supporters after crashing out of race
Kemi Badenoch has thanked her supporter for their backing in the Tory Leadership contest, after she was kocked out in the fourth round of voting.
The MP for Saffron Walden tweeted: “I’m grateful to my colleagues and the party members who have supported me.
“This campaign began less than two weeks ago. What we’ve achieved demonstrates the level of support for our vision of change for our country and for the Conservative Party.
“Thank you.”
Kemi Badenoch knocked out in fourth round
Kemi Badenoch has been knocked out in the latest round of voting in the Tory leadership contest.
The MP failed to pick up enough votes to progress to the next round, when the final two candidates will be decided for the run-off vote amongst Conservative Party members across the UK.
Rishi Sunak placed first with 118 votes, while Penny Mordaunt placed second with 92 and Liz Truss third with 85.
Third round ballot results
- Rishi Sunak - 118 (+3)
- Penny Mordaunt - 92 (+10)
- Liz Truss - 85 (+14)
Kemi Badenoch- 59 (+1)
Polls close in latest round of Tory leadership contest
Polls have closed in the latest round of the Tory leadership contest.
Father of the House Sir Peter Bottomley was the last MP to vote.
Tory leadership vote result due to be announced at 3pm
At least three fans have been placed in the room where Tory MPs will cast their votes in an attempt to take at least some of the heat out of the contest.
MPs were expected to file in to Committee Room 14 as Westminster baked in the heatwave.
The fourth round of voting will see another candidate eliminated, with a result due to be announced at 3pm.
Tugendhat refuses to say who he is backing as Tory leadership vote underway
Asked if she was feeling optimistic, Penny Mordaunt said:
“We will see. We won’t have long to wait. “
Tom Tugendhat turned up with a number of his supporters.
The way they cast their ballots following his elimination from the race could have a major impact on the contest.
Mr Tugendhat declined to say who he had backed.
Liz Truss pledges to get defence spending up to 3% of GDP
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has pledged to get defence spending up to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) – a measure of the size of the economy – by the end of the decade if she becomes prime minister.
Under current plans, spending is set to reach around 2.5% by 2030.
“We live in an increasingly dangerous world where the threat level is higher than a decade ago, and we need a stronger deterrent to face down those threats and ensure Britain leads on the global stage.
“Ultimately that requires more resources. My number one priority is keeping this country safe and people can trust me to do that.
“Britain and the free world face a defining moment. We need a prime minister capable of leading internationally, who can also drive the economic growth we need here at home. I am the candidate best placed to do that.”
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