Rishi Sunak garnered the most applause at the final London debate on Wednesday evening. On Monday, the winner of the Tory leadership election will be announced.
Liz Truss has guaranteed that there will be no energy rationing if she is elected prime minister next week, while her opponent Rishi Sunak has cautioned that “we should not rule out the possibility.”
At the twelfth and final leadership debate at Wembley Arena in London, the frontrunner in the race pledged no new taxes and offered the strongest signal that she will provide more assistance to households to assist with growing energy bills.
When asked about her intentions to handle the cost of living situation, the foreign secretary restated her two primary priorities of reducing taxes and guaranteeing the United Kingdom’s energy supply, but added, “In the event of a fiscal crisis, the chancellor would address the issue of household support.”
Ms. Truss responded, “Yes, no new taxes,” when asked whether she would make the same pledge as Boris Johnson in 2019 that she would not impose any new taxes.
In response to a question regarding the possibility of energy rationing as a result of rising costs, she stated, “I do rule that out.”
Mr. Sunak, despite being the self-proclaimed “underdog” in the leadership campaign, received the greatest applause at the hustings location on Wednesday night when he was questioned on the same topic.
We should consider all possibilities, he answered.
He stated that leadership “begins with being honest with the public about the economic issues,” telling the audience: “I have not chosen to speak what people may like to hear; I have said what I believe our country needs to hear.
Although it has not made my life easier, it is honest, and for me, it is the essence of leadership.
The two remaining contenders had divergent perspectives on the concept of a windfall tax.
Ms. Truss ruled out another windfall tax on the earnings of oil and gas giants, but Mr. Sunak stated, “As chancellor, I implemented a windfall tax, and I’m delighted I did.”
He continued, “It is unquestionably the proper thing to do when energy firms are reaping billions of pounds in profits due to a conflict.”
Mr. Sunak reaffirmed his pledge to make inflation his “number one goal” if the elected prime minister and asserted, “I can guarantee that it would fall far more quickly under my plan than under any other strategy.”
Ms. Truss stated that fracking should be conducted in certain regions of the UK.
When asked about her detailed plans to reduce high energy prices, she responded, “I am not ruling anything out.” I am not now composing a future budget.”
In light of the news that the energy price cap would increase by 80% in October, resulting in the average household paying £3,549 per year for gas and electricity, the government is under increasing pressure to announce additional aid to help households and businesses through the cost of living crisis.
Mr. Johnson has stressed that his successor will determine the appropriate course of action.
During the final campaign event in London, Ms. Truss argued that the existing government was “totally functioning” even though no more support had been revealed in the face of mounting warnings from industry experts about the likelihood of rising costs.
During the two-hour session, Mr. Sunak also cautioned that “we cannot simply keep pouring money” at the NHS and vowed to “transform it to obtain the more efficient health service that we require.
Additionally, the former chancellor stated that he would appoint an independent ethics adviser again, a pledge that Ms. Truss has declined to make.
Meanwhile, Ms. Truss committed to “examine” and “halt” the implementation of smart highways.
The foreign secretary also stated that she will “change government support” for daycare, which she characterized as “extremely expensive for parents across the country.”
On Monday, September 5, the winner of the Conservative leadership election will be announced.
