Either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will become the next prime minister after Tory MPs fielded them in the last round of the Conservative leadership election.
Here we look at how they differ across key policy areas:
Economy
Rishi Sunak
Sunak promised a “return to traditional Conservative economic values”, a position variously seen as an appeal to the Tories’ instinctive fiscal prudence or a desire to return to “austerity economics”. When challenged with claims he was a “high-tax chancellor”, he took aim at other candidates offering “comfort talk” rather than facing the harsh economic reality. He said he aims to cut taxes but wants to tackle inflation first.
Liz Truss
Truss has promised to reverse the rise in National Insurance rates, which was designed to fund health and social care. Her economic message is based on low taxes and low regulation, and she told the Spectator that she would treat loans built up during the pandemic as war debt to be written off over a long period of time.
Liz Truss: ‘My Tax Cuts Will Reduce Inflation’ – Video
Climate
Rishi Sunak
Sunak would set a new legal target for the UK to be energy independent by 2045 at the latest and pledged to uphold the government’s legally binding target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and assured the Tories’ green wing that it would protect the environment environment.
Insiders say Sunak was not opposed to spending money on climate action when he ran the Treasury. However, he has previously come out in favor of net zero and argued for a greener economy.
Liz Truss
Truss pledged to uphold the government’s legally binding goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, but said it would halt green energy levies.
She is backed by Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng, who is relatively strong on renewable energy, and another supporter, Vicky Ford, says she has been very supportive of Cop26.
education
Rishi Sunak
Sunak supporters Nick Gibb and Damien Hinds, both of whom have served as ministers in the Department of Education, set out Sunak’s approach to education in a column in The Times. The education system will be “focused on excellence and providing the skills and knowledge needed for tomorrow’s world,” they wrote. It plans to help the best multi-academy trusts to expand and deliver on the commitment to create high-quality specialist free post-16 schools outside London and the South East.
Liz Truss
Truss complained about the quality of the public school she attended, which critics were quick to point out happened under Conservative governments, and promised to give everyone “equal opportunities” so they can “know that the city they’re in born, there are opportunities” .
Internal affairs
Rishi Sunak
Sunak also supports the Rwanda removal scheme, although sources say he opposed it as chancellor because of the £120 million cost. He promised a “crackdown on gangs by women for women” and pledged to make it a requirement for all police forces to have a ring-fenced child sexual exploitation team.
Liz Truss
Truss reportedly said he would try to extend the removal scheme from Rwanda to countries such as Turkey, calling it “totally moral”.
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Leveling
Rishi Sunak
Sunak has won the backing of Tory Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen as well as a host of red wall MPs for his pledges to equalise. He has committed to maintaining a cabinet-level secretary of state for promotion. Houchen said he was encouraged by Sunak’s interest in the equalization program.
Liz Truss
Truss also pledged to continue the equalization program, but added that he would do so in a “conservative way.” Commentators suggest this means a focus on tax cuts and deregulation rather than high spending and investment.
Brexit
Rishi Sunak
Sunak had earlier declared for Brexit in the run-up to the referendum. He is reported to have backed proposals for a “Northern Ireland protocol” and as chancellor is promoting “free ports” around Britain as one way to benefit from Brexit. He has pledged to set fire to EU laws that “hinder” British business.
Liz Truss
Trots remained in the referendum campaign but has since become a staunch Brexiteer. She is leading negotiations with Brussels over subsequent disagreements and is pushing for new legislation that would unilaterally rewrite Britain’s post-Brexit commitments to the EU over Northern Ireland.
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