Voting set to begin in UK race to become prime minister

Voting set to begin in UK race to become prime minister
August 1, 2022, 8:59 am

UK House of Commons

The race between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to become Britain's next prime minister steps up a gear on Monday (Auguat 1) with the mailing out of ballots to Conservative party members, the Khaleej Times reported, citing the AFP.

With voting set to begin to find Boris Johnson's replacement, bookmakers have Foreign Secretary Truss as heavy favourite ahead of former finance minister Sunak.

The pair have already spent a fractious two weeks on the campaign trail, where they have clashed repeatedly, particularly over their economic plans.

Truss has promised to slash taxes in an attempt to revive Britain's spluttering economy and ease the burden of spiralling prices.

Sunak, who steered the UK economy through the pandemic, said Truss's plans were "fantasy economics" that would fuel inflation and heap further strain on public finances struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Left-right: Kemi Badenoch; Penny Mordaunt; Rishi Sunak; Liz Truss; and Tom Tugendhat are all hoping to land the top job at No 10. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

But trailing in polls with the all-important party members, Sunak last week performed a significant U-turn by announcing a plan to scrap VAT on energy bills.

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And on Sunday (July 30) he promised to cut the basic rate of income tax by 20 percent before the end of the next parliament, which would be December 2029, at the latest.

He promised grassroot Tories over the weekend that he would stop "woke nonsense" and "end the brainwashing" if he becomes prime minister, although added he has "zero interest in fighting a so-called culture war".

The 42-year-old also unveiled plans to revive the country's ailing town centres.

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He said: "I want to slash the number of empty shops by 2025 and make sure that they are turned into thriving local assets.”

"I will also crack down on anti-social behaviour, graffiti and littering - through extended police powers and increased fines."

Source: khaleejtimes

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