In their first live one-on-one TV discussion, the candidates battled over taxation and Boris Johnson; a subsequent Opinium survey placed them in a dead heat.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss escalated their blue-on-blue attacks in a fiery head-to-head confrontation in which they clashed over taxes, the schools they attended, and their allegiance to Boris Johnson.
In their first live TV debate since reaching the final two in the Tory leadership race, the candidates were questioned about their economic policy, China, and even earrings.
In a snap Opinium poll to determine who performed the best, Mr. Sunak came out on top with 39 percent, while Ms. Truss received 38 percent.
The debate began with a particularly heated discussion of the economy, a key dividing line in the race to succeed Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Sunak, a former chancellor, asserted that Ms. Truss’s strategy is “completely unconservative” and would give the party “zero chance” of winning the upcoming election.
In response, Foreign Secretary Ms. Truss suggested that her opponent would lead the nation into a recession and accused him of “doom and gloom” economics.
In addition to reversing the National Insurance tax increase, Ms. Truss has stated that, if the elected prime minister, she would implement an economic growth plan “immediately” and impose a temporary moratorium on the green energy levy.
Ms. Truss stated that the government would begin paying down its debt in three years, but Mr. Sunak responded: “You have promised over £40 billion in unfunded tax cuts – £40 billion more debt.
“This is the country’s credit card, and our children and grandchildren will be responsible for paying the bill.
“It is not conservative in any way.”
Mr. Sunak insisted that the highest tax burden in seven decades was a result of the unprecedented levels of government spending necessary to keep the economy afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms. Truss countered that no other nation was raising taxes and accused Mr. Sunak of lacking a growth strategy.
Several times, he spoke over Ms. Truss as he warned inflation was a problem in the 1980s and continues to be a “problem” today.
According to her economic adviser, her plan will result in a 7 percent increase in mortgage interest rates, causing “millions of people to fall into abject poverty.”
But Ms. Truss responded: “This Chancellor has raised taxes to their greatest level in seven decades, and a recession is now anticipated. The numbers tell the story.”
The two also argued over China, with Ms. Truss claiming that Mr. Sunak’s new hard-line approach was “dictated by the Foreign Office.”
Ms. Truss was also questioned over her claim from last week’s debate that her extensive education would make her a better prime minister.
At one point, though, the cabinet secretary praised Mr. Sunak’s sense of style.
Today, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries criticized Mr. Sunak by comparing his pricey suit and shoes to Liz Truss’ £4.50 Claire’s Accessories earrings, which generated a stir.
When asked to comment, Mr. Sunak stated that the leadership candidates should be evaluated “based on their character and activities.”
He stated that he “wasn’t born this way” because his family immigrated to the United Kingdom sixty years ago and he previously worked in an Indian restaurant.
“Great fan of his attire”
Ms. Truss did not reject Ms. Dorries’ remarks, but she appeared to distance herself from them by stating she was unsure of the source of the £4.50 assertion regarding her earrings.
And she stated that she has “no problem with how pricey other people’s clothes are” and that she “won’t give Rishi fashion advice,” adding that she is “a huge fan of his dress style.”
In a rare display of unity, both candidates stated that they would like the other to be a part of their administration, although Ms. Truss’s friends claimed that Mr. Sunak displayed “aggressive mansplaining and shouty private school behavior” throughout the debate.
Mr. Sunak stated that Mr. Johnson is “one of the most remarkable guys I’ve ever met,” but he would not allow him to serve in his cabinet if he became prime minister.
He received a round of applause when he stated that he quit “on principle” because “enough was enough” owing to behavior and economic concerns.
Ms. Truss refused to disclose the circumstances under which she would have resigned and emphasized that her refusal to do so was motivated by her allegiance to her current supervisor. She also refused to answer explicitly when asked if she would allow Mr. Johnson to serve in her cabinet, instead stating that she does not anticipate this would occur since she believes he “needs a well-deserved sabbatical.”
However, when challenged, she stated that he would not be a member of her top team, stating, “I am sure he will play a role and be vociferous, but he will not be part of the administration.”
The tense debate followed a weekend in which friends of the two candidates for Tory leadership traded increasingly personal accusations.
Mr. Sunak received more applause from the studio audience in Stoke, which was composed exclusively of people who voted Conservative in the most recent national election.
His campaign asserted that his performance proves he had “won the economic debate.”
However, according to the most recent betting odds, Liz Truss is still the favorite to win the Tory leadership.
