Finding UK’s next UK Prime Minister: Contenders battle in 1st TV debate

With Boris Johnson
on his way out of the UK Prime Minister’s office, the country is on its way to
get its next leader. From among eight Conservatives, five still remain in the
race. The five people ready to take on the top elected position in Britain’s
polity are: Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tungedhat, Penny Mordaunt and Kemi
Bandenoch.

In the 90-minute
debate, the competing Conservatives put out a plan to take Britain out of the
cost-of-living crisis and articulated specific ways on how they were going to
battle inflation. Honesty in politics remained the core theme.

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Rishi Sunak, the
finance minister in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, remains one of the top contenders
for the job. Sunak, 42, topped the first two rounds of voting this week. For
him, the way to battle inflation is to call for caution and patience.

Sunak’s own
family, his wife Akshata Murthy, has been beset with allegations of tax
irregularity. In its midst, Sunak said, “Borrowing your way out of inflation
isn’t a plan, it’s a fairytale.” His comments were aimed at Liz Truss, who has
positioned herself as a free marketeer.

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Liz Truss, 46, has
been trying to rouse the right wing. While her campaign has flagged so far, she
has established herself as a low tax, free marketeer. Truss enjoys the backing
of former loyalists of Boris Johnson. “You cannot tax your way to growth. I
think it is wrong to put taxes up,” she said.

Tom Tungedhat, a
prominent backbencher, has emerged from the ashes to become one of the top
contenders for the job. “Are you serving the people of the United Kingdom or
are you serving your career,” asked Tungedhat. The backbencher drew repeated
applause from attendees.

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Penny Mordaunt,
49, stands tall on strong grassroots support. For Mordaunt, it has been a
surprise to have come this far. Talking about Boris Johnson, Mordaunt said, “There
have been some really severe issues and I think he has paid a price for that.”

Kemi Bandenoch, on
the other hand, went after Mordaunt over transgender rights. Mordaunt is a
former equalities minister.