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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Lizzy Buchan

'Backstabber' Sunak and 'clueless' Truss: What Tory members think of the leadership race

The long and bitter Tory leadership contest is entering its final stretch, with less than two weeks to go until the result is announced.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have been battling to persuade Conservative members that they have what it takes to become party leader - and Prime Minister - in September.

Ms Truss looks set to triumph after wooing Tory activists with her tough-talking, tax-cutting agenda.

But the vicious nature of the contest has risked tearing the party apart, and the winner faces an uphill battle to reunite the warring Tory factions.

At the penultimate hustings in Norwich, near to Ms Truss' South West Norfolk constituency, Conservative members appeared to favour the home candidate, with anger directed at Mr Sunak for his perceived betrayal of Boris Johnson.

Tory frontrunner Liz Truss (AFP via Getty Images)

Brian Dolton voted for Ms Truss and expressed scepticism about her opponent.

The 59-year-old engineer, who works in Ms Truss' constituency, said: "I don't trust Rishi. The way his campaign came out right at the start - it was all coordinated, it was all there.

"We still have respect for Boris within the party. Most of the members don't forgive."

His colleague Rob James hasn't voted yet but said he was leaning towards Ms Truss.

Mr James, 54, said: "I feel like Liz is the one who is genuine. Sometimes I feel Rishi is saying what people want to hear. I don't get that feeling from Liz.

Tory leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak (AFP via Getty Images)

"I feel like Liz will stand up for the country more."

He added: "I was very supportive of Boris... I think he did get into an impossible situation and he didn't deal with it in a great way. I think he lost the trust of the country, myself included."

Simone Calnon, 55, said she was planning to back Ms Truss as she was a "Boris fan" but her main priority was cost of living.

Ms Calnon, who runs a village shop, said: "I've got a small business and I want to know what they can do for us because I can't sleep at the moment.

"Our bills have gone from £1,200 to £3,000. I was up at 4am in the morning, thinking how am I going to do this?

Some members blame Rishi Sunak for Boris Johnson's demise (REUTERS)

"I'm leaning towards Liz at the moment. I'm a Boris fan so I don't want to vote for the other one. Rishi is the one who backstabbed him."

But Carol, 65, said she was supporting Mr Sunak as his rival would be a "disaster" for the economy.

She said: "I don't think she [Liz Truss] has a clue about the economy.

"I think she will be a disaster. I don't like having to say that but I think she will be bad for the economy.

"I remember the 1970s and how it was back then."

Claire, 51, also said she had voted for Mr Sunak as she opposed Ms Truss' economic plans.

"It's because of the economy. I think tax cuts at this stage - while I'm sure we would love that - to me it's just a 'vote winner'.

"In the short term, it's not the right thing to do for the country."

Gary Groves, 36, said he hadn't made his final decision but he was more in favour of Ms Truss.

Mr Groves, who works in finance, said: "I don't want to vote for Rishi because of everything with Boris Johnson. I wasn't going to vote until I came to this."

He backed Liz Truss ' tax-cutting plans and said he was worried about cost of living.

"At the moment we are are alright but if it get's any worse I'll start to worry," he added.

Mr Groves was unimpressed by the tone of the race, saying: "They are just having a go at each other. It doesn't look good."

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