2 contenders battle for Conservative votes in UK leader race

Jul 21, 2022, 1:54 AM | Updated: 8:04 am

Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss , centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conserv...

Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss , centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London, Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — The two candidates vying to become Britain’s next prime minister began a head-to-head battle Thursday for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader.

Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence, while Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is offering immediate tax cuts to members of the right-wing governing party, which is divided and demoralized after three turbulent years under departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Sunak and Truss were chosen Wednesday by Conservative lawmakers — whittled down from an initial field of 11 candidates — as finalists to replace Johnson, who quit as party leader on July 7 after months of ethics scandals. He remains prime minister until his successor is chosen. The result of the party leadership contest is due on Sept. 5 and that person automatically becomes Britain’s next prime minister.

Only about 180,000 Conservative Party members have a vote in choosing the country’s next leader. The rest of the U.K.’s 67 million people must watch the campaign from the sidelines, as the candidates spar in televised debates and party meetings — against a backdrop of soaring prices, growing climate extremes that broke U.K. temperature records this week and the war in Ukraine.

The winner of the Conservative contest will not have to face British voters until 2024, unless he or she chooses to call an early general election.

That doesn’t mean they will have an easy time. Truss was surrounded Thursday as she left an event with local politicians in London by demonstrators protesting the culling of badgers to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Oddsmakers say the favorite is Truss, who has led the U.K.’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is running as a low-tax, small-state conservative in the mold of Margaret Thatcher.

In interviews Thursday, Truss said she had the “toughness” and “grit” to lead the country in troubled times.

“We are in very difficult times. We need to be bold,” she told the BBC. “We cannot have business as usual for the challenge we face.”

Sunak, who steered Britain’s economy through the pandemic before quitting Johnson’s government this month, also claims to wear the mantle of Thatcher, whose free-market policies transformed Britain’s economy in the 1980s. Sunak argues it would be irresponsible to slash taxes before getting inflation under control. He won the vote among party lawmakers, but his previous role as Britain’s chief taxman may go down less well with the Tory grassroots.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Sunak said “low inflation and sound public finances” were needed as the foundation of the economy.

In a dig at Truss, lawmaker Robert Jenrick, a Sunak supporter, said “it is the antithesis of Thatcherism to be going around making unfunded tax pledges merely to win a leadership contest.”

Sunak also faces open hostility from allies of Johnson, who consider him a turncoat for quitting the government earlier this month, a move that helped bring down the prime minister.

Johnson clung to office through months of scandals over his finances and his judgment, refusing to resign when he was fined by police over government parties that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. He finally quit after one scandal too many — appointing a politician accused of sexual misconduct — drove his ministers to resign en masse.

Both Truss and Sunak are aiming to distance themselves from the ethical swamp around Johnson, while persuading Tories they can match his election record, which delivered a landslide victory to the Conservatives in 2019.

Rhys Smithson, a Conservative local councilor from Colchester in eastern England, said he still remained undecided after listening to the two candidates on Thursday.

“Sunak is probably more grown up, but I would say Truss is more passionate,” he said. “Truss will appeal more to members, I think Sunak will appeal more to the electorate.”

___

Follow all of AP’s coverage of British politics at https://apnews.com/hub/boris-johnson

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


              Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss , centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss , centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss , centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, centre, arrives for a hustings event with the Conservative Councillors' Association, in Westminster, central London,  Thursday July 21, 2022. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
            
              FILE This combo of file photos shows the remaining candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The two candidates to become Britain’s next prime minister have begun a head-to-head battle for the votes of Conservative Party members who will choose the country’s new leader. Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is promising fiscal prudence. (AP Photo, File)
            
              Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss receives applause from her team near Parliament in London, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
            
              Sir Graham Brady, third left, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces the results of the ballot giving the final two candidates for the Conservative Party leadership, in the Houses of Parliament, London, Wednesday July 20, 2022. Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The pair came first and second in a vote of Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday July 20, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)

AP

FILE - U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz listens during a news conference, Jan. 5, 2023, in Washi...

Associated Press

US Border Patrol chief is retiring after seeing through end of Title 42 immigration restrictions

The head of the U.S. Border Patrol announced Tuesday that he was retiring, after seeing through a major policy shift that seeks to clamp down on illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border following the end of Title 42 pandemic restrictions.

1 day ago

FILE - President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., on the House steps as...

Associated Press

House OKs debt ceiling bill to avoid default, sends Biden-McCarthy deal to Senate

The House approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package late Wednesday, as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans against fierce conservative blowback and progressive dissent.

1 day ago

Sean Bickings (Family Photo via city of Tempe)...

Associated Press

Family of man who drowned last year in Tempe Town Lake files wrongful death lawsuit

The family of a man who drowned in Tempe Town Lake a year ago filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city Wednesday, noting that its police department doesn't have a policy requiring officers to go into the water to save someone.

1 day ago

(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS...

Associated Press

Florida police search for 3 gunmen who wounded 9 at crowded beach on Memorial Day

Police are responding to a shooting near the beach broadwalk in Hollywood, Florida.

3 days ago

Crew members assemble the main stage ahead of the 2023 Scripps Nations Spelling Bee on Sunday, May ...

Associated Press

Exclusive secrets of the National Spelling Bee: Picking the words to identify a champion

As the final pre-competition meeting of the Scripps National Spelling Bee's word selection panel stretches into its seventh hour, the pronouncers no longer seem to care.

3 days ago

FILE - Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt, wipes a tear from her face during a news conference o...

Associated Press

Mother of man who killed Gabby Petito said in letter she would help son ‘dispose of a body’

The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would “dispose of a body” if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petito's parents.

6 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

re:vitalize

Why drug-free weight loss still matters

Wanting to lose weight is a common goal for many people as they progress throughout life, but choosing between a holistic approach or to take medicine can be a tough decision.

(Photo by Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images)...

Cox Communications

Valley Boys & Girls Club uses esports to help kids make healthy choices

KTAR’s Community Spotlight focuses on the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley and the work to incorporate esports into children's lives.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Company looking for oldest air conditioner and wants to reward homeowner with new one

Does your air conditioner make weird noises or a burning smell when it starts? If so, you may be due for an AC unit replacement.

2 contenders battle for Conservative votes in UK leader race