Liz Truss has promised to put the West Midlands “at the heart of our economic revival” ahead of the 10th Tory leadership hustings in Birmingham.
The Foreign Secretary and former chancellor Rishi Sunak will once again be put to the test by party members during a two-hour event in the second-largest city in the UK.
Times Radio’s John Pienaar will present the hustings, interviewing each candidate and moderating questions from the audience.
It will be broadcast live on Times Radio from 7pm to 9pm and streamed in vision on the Times Radio YouTube channel.
Ahead of the debate, Ms Truss, who is currently the frontrunner in the race, set out her plan to boost growth and drive opportunity across the West Midlands.
Through lower taxes, better regulation and supply side reform, the Foreign Secretary believes she will create a favourable environment for the private sector, getting behind firms in the region, if she becomes prime minister.
Ms Truss also pledged to deliver key infrastructure projects, including the Midlands Rail Hub, and support West Midlands mayor Andy Street to deliver the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill metro extension in full.
She said she would also put the government’s full weight behind efforts to bring a battery gigafactory to the region.
Ms Truss said: “I will put the West Midlands at the heart of our economic revival with my Conservative plan to level up.
“My bold vision for lower taxes, supply side reform and regulation that works for our businesses will utilise the power of the West Midlands economy to boost opportunity for people across the region.
“From Coventry’s cars to Stoke’s ceramics, the West Midlands is a vital part of the UK’s economic engine, and plays host to some of the most innovative industries and companies in the country.
“My plan will support and harness that power, helping our businesses grow and provide the high-quality jobs that we need.
The West Midlands can play a critical role in a new economic revolution in Britain— Liz Truss
“The West Midlands can play a critical role in a new economic revolution in Britain.
“I will cut taxes on families and firms, support vital infrastructure and create new investment zones to deliver for the people of the West Midlands.
“I will also strengthen devolution to put more power in the hands of our excellent local leaders like Andy Street.”
The hustings on Tuesday evening comes as Ms Truss is being urged to be more transparent with her plans for an emergency budget to address the cost-of-living crisis.
In a wide-ranging interview on BBC Radio 2, Mr Sunak said he is receiving a “warm reception” while campaigning, even as he acknowledged that some Tory Party members are still angry at him for quitting Boris Johnson’s Government.
The former chancellor said: “If I actually spent all my time looking at the polls or reading newspapers, I probably wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning to do all these things.”
“There are a group of people among our members, and that is understandable, who are upset I resigned from Government,” he admitted.
But he rejected suggestions that his campaign has not been “politically savvy” as he said he just wants to be “honest” with voters about the state of the British economy.
Ms Truss has said she would bring forward urgent plans to address rising energy bills if elected as prime minister.
But Conservative MP Mel Stride, who chairs the Commons Treasury Committee, called into question reports that she is not planning to ask the independent Office for Budget Responsibility for a forecast ahead of the measures she is planning for next month.
Mr Stride, a Sunak supporter, told LBC: “At the moment the Liz camp are saying, I believe, that there will not be any OBR forecast produced at that time and that is kind of like flying blind.”
The former chancellor’s campaign had earlier called on Ms Truss to “come clean”, and claimed her plans to borrow in order to fund tax cuts are “dangerous”.
He told the BBC: “Liz’s plans are promising the earth to everybody. I don’t think you can have your cake and eat it. I don’t think life is that simple, and I think her plan risks making everything worse.”
Ms Truss has argued that tax cuts will help to grow the UK’s economy and boost prosperity.
A Truss campaign spokesman said: “The cost-of-living crisis means immediate action is required.
“A Truss government would seek to act as soon as possible to help people across the UK, by cutting taxes and introducing a temporary moratorium on energy levies.”
