Rishi Sunak, a candidate for the Conservative leadership, has stated that he will impose a £10 fine on patients who persistently miss doctor or hospital appointments.
Mr. Sunak stated to the Sunday Telegraph that he desired to be “transformational” and to “do something courageous and… new.”
His opponent, Liz Truss, presented measures to ensure that pupils with the highest grades are automatically asked to go to Oxford or Cambridge.
She stated, “You can count on me to deliver as the education minister.”
As Conservative members prepare to receive their ballots on Monday, the final two contenders for party leader and prime minister present their plans and goals.
Ms. Truss has issued a six-point plan for education reform, stating that she aims to provide “every child with the tools necessary for success.”
The foreign secretary’s suggestions include expanding entry to Oxford, Cambridge, and other prestigious universities and placing less reliance on anticipated grades.
It is unclear how the approach would operate in practice and there are few specifics regarding how the top students would be immediately invited to an interview.
She stated that she intends to expand existing high-performing academy schools and replace failed institutions with free schools. She also indicated she might abolish the English restriction on new grammar schools.
Mr. Sunak has outlined his intentions to target NHS no-shows, telling the Sunday Telegraph that patients will be given the “benefit of the doubt” the first time they skip an appointment, but will be charged £10 for subsequent absences.
He stated that the system would be “temporary” until the Covid backlog is eliminated.
The former chancellor provided few specifics on how the new system will operate, but he did say, “It’s not right that individuals are now showing up and taking those spaces away from those who need them.
“I am in favor of a healthcare system that is free at the point of use, but not at the point of abuse.”
As of February, one-ninth of the population of England was on NHS waiting lists, totaling six million individuals.
Ministers have cautioned that the hospital treatment waiting list will not begin to shrink for two years.
Mr. Sunak stated that it was “inappropriate” for individuals to miss consultations, scans, and checkups, “taking those appointments away from those who need them.”
Separately, the former chancellor has stated that he wishes to reduce the number of vacant stores on Britain’s main streets and crack down on graffiti and trash.
Mr. Sunak stated, “I hope to reduce the number of vacant stores by 2025 and transform them into vibrant local assets that support skills, local businesses, economies, and job creation.”
They will be joined by essential public services such as police stations and employment centers.
Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss are contending for the position of Conservative party leader after reaching the final stage of the contest.
The replacement for Boris Johnson will be selected by the party membership, and the winner will be announced on September 5.
During the campaign, the two contenders have clashed vis-à-vis their competing views on the United Kingdom’s future.
Earlier this month, they presented their economic strategies and criticized one another’s policies.
According to party member polls, Ms. Truss leads Mr. Sunak in the battle to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis backed her, telling the Telegraph that Ms. Truss will restore power-sharing at Stormont more rapidly.
Ms. Truss told the Sunday Times that she is uncertain whether her parents would vote for her in a general election, despite her apparent popularity among Tory members.
“I believe my mother will, but I’m not sure about my father,” she stated, adding that her parents disagreed with her over public expenditure and taxes.
