Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are going head-to-head in the battle to become the next Prime Minister of the UK. The final two will be hoping to win the backing of party members when they take part in a televised debate tonight.
Former chancellor Mr Sunak had been the long-term favourite to take over from Boris Johnson after the current PM announced his resignation at the beginning of the month. However, bookies are now placing foreign secretary Ms Truss as the odds on favourite to move into Number 10 later this year.
Tonight's BBC debate at 9pm comes after a weekend that saw allies of the two Tory leadership hopefuls trade increasingly personal attacks. Sophie Raworth will host the debate in Stoke, with the BBC’s political editor Chris Mason and economics editor Faisal Islam offering analysis and some follow-up questions.
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In recent days, Ms Truss and Mr Sunak have been engaged in bitter clashes over policies. Here's where the two candidates stand on issues such as Brexit, immigration and tax cuts.
Where does Rishi Sunak stand on tax cuts?
The former chancellor has pitched himself as the fiscally conservative candidate. He has promised to “deliver tax cuts that drive growth”, but to do so in a “way that’s responsible” and only “after we’ve got a grip of inflation”.
Speaking from Grantham in Lincolnshire last week, Mr Sunak warned: “We have to tell the truth about the cost of living and that there is no answer to this problem other than to grip inflation and bring it down. Rising inflation is the enemy that makes everyone poorer and puts at risk your homes and your savings."
He continued: “And we have to tell the truth about tax. I will deliver more tax cuts. I’ve already made real progress as chancellor, but I will not put money back in your pocket knowing that rising inflation will only whip it straight back out.”
His supporters have said that Mr Sunak is the only candidate in the race with a clear plan for the country, with Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday morning that his candidate had set out a “credible” plan on the economy and on the NHS.
Mr Sunak has criticised rival Ms Truss' plans to raise borrowing to pay for tax cuts as “comforting fairytales” and branded them “immoral” for passing debt onto the next generation.
Where does Liz Truss stand on tax cuts?
The foreign secretary has pledged to “start cutting taxes from day one” with a new Budget and Spending Review that would reverse April’s rise in national insurance and next year’s corporation tax hike from 19 per cent to 25 per cent. She has vowed to “simplify” taxes and ensure people are not penalised for caring for children or relatives.
She has not explained how she would pay for the £30 billion in tax cuts she has promised, but insists they “can be paid for within the existing fiscal envelope”. Ms Truss has said that cutting taxes will help curb inflation.
She defended her tax cut plans as “affordable”, telling broadcasters during a visit to Peterborough: “What is not affordable is putting up taxes, choking off growth, and ending up in a much worse position."
What has Rishi Sunak said about Brexit?
Mr Sunak, who voted Leave, has promised to scrap or reform all EU law or bureaucracy still on the statute book by the time of the next general election. He has vowed to have initial recommendations on whether each law stays or goes within his first 100 days.
What has Liz Truss said about Brexit?
Ms Truss voted Remain but has since embraced Brexit and scooped up the backing of staunch Brexiteers in the party.
If she becomes PM, she will review all EU laws retained after Brexit by the end of next year in a “red tape bonfire”, she said, vowing to scrap or replace those that are deemed to hinder UK growth. She has reportedly said she would seek to reform the European Convention on Human Rights but would be “prepared to leave” it.
She has also pledged to boost UK growth rates with “full-fat freeports. Freeports became one of the flagship, post-Brexit policies for the Johnson government, with several free port locations announced by then-Chancellor Mr Sunak last year.
In a think-tank report in 2016, the then-junior Tory MP wrote: “Brexit will provide the UK with new economic freedom, and the Government should take the opportunity to create Free Ports across the nation.” The aim is to boost economic activity near ports or airports, with the sites benefitting from tariff exemptions on imports.
Where does Rishi Sunak stand on immigration?
Mr Sunak supports the government’s controversial Rwanda asylum policy, saying he would do “whatever it takes” to get it up and running.
He has also unveiled a 10-point plan that includes the promise of a narrower definition of who qualifies for asylum compared to that offered by the European Convention on Human Rights, with enhanced powers to detain, tag and monitor illegal migrants.
Mr Sunak has promised to give Parliament control over who comes to the UK by creating an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted each year, albeit one that can be changed in the case of sudden emergencies.
Has has also said that if he wins the party vote, top of his agenda will be a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron to find a solution to small boat crossings, which he also suggested should be tackled with a new cross-government taskforce.
Where does Liz Truss stand on immigration?
Ms Truss also supports the Rwanda policy and has said that under her leadership it could be extended further, with partnerships with more countries and further return and resettlement agreements.
She has also said she will increase Border Force staff levels from 9,000 to 10,800 and double the Border Force Maritime staffing levels, while also bringing forward a strengthened UK Bill of Rights to provide a “sound legal basis” to tackle illegal migration.
What has Rishi Sunak said about the NHS?
Mr Sunak has promised a “vaccines-style” taskforce to tackle NHS backlogs, calling dealing with the issue one of his top priorities. He plans to expand the network of specialist surgical centres and community diagnostics hubs in order to eliminate one-year NHS waiting times six months earlier than planned by September 2024, and to get overall numbers falling by next year.
What has Liz Truss said about the NHS?
Ms Truss agrees on the urgent need to deal with care backlogs, promising to install a “strong” health secretary to solve the issue. She said she is “completely committed” to current government promises for NHS spending, despite her plans for tax cuts.
What has Rishi Sunak said about climate change?
Mr Sunak wants to meet net zero emissions by 2050. He has pledged to keep the ban on building new onshore wind farms, but wants to introduce a legal target to make Britain energy self-sufficient by 2045 by overseeing a massive expansion in offshore turbines.
What has Liz Truss said about climate change?
Ms Truss also backs the net zero push, but would pause green levies on domestic energy bills, which could damage the target.
She says there is a strong case for lifting the ban on fracking and wants to move away from the EU’s habitat directive in favour of a stronger British biodiversity target.
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