At a jam-packed Wembley Arena in London on Wednesday, candidates former chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss made their final appeals to voting members as the window for Conservative Party members to choose their new leader and the country’s Prime Minister closed.
According to polls earlier this month, Ms. Truss, 47, is leading nationally, while the 42-year-old Mr. Sunak earned enthusiastic acclaim and cheers from the London audience. She is also considered the favorite among bookmakers. Party members can change their votes that have already been cast through Friday at 5 p.m. local time.
The urgent fight against inflation is Mr. Sunak’s signature strategy. On Friday, he asserted that his plan would have a faster rate of decline than any of the alternatives. Currently, inflation is over 10%. He has argued against greater borrowing to reduce taxes. Further, arguing that the proposal is not “conservative” and that investors shouldn’t lose faith in the United Kingdom.
Ms. Truss
Ms. Truss pledged not to enact new taxes, to simplify the tax law, to undo the Johnson administration’s increase in national insurance premiums, and halt the use of “green levies” on energy bills. She added that she would concentrate on the energy supply side. It includes suggesting the use of more nuclear power, fracking in areas that support it, and more oil and gas from the North Sea.
When asked about foreign policy on Wednesday, including the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, Ms. Truss opted not to declare if former U.S. President Donald Trump was a “friend or adversary.” She had previously stated that it was still unclear whether French President Emmanuel Macron was a friend or foe. She defended her comment on Mr. Macron on Wednesday by saying, “That’s not commenting, as far as I can say.”
Ms. Truss asserted that the United States was the U.K.’s “closest ally.” She met Mr. Trump and Vice President Joe Biden of the United States.
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