Conservative MPs have just voted for the last time in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as party leader and prime minister. Recently resigned Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss received the most votes. It will now be up to the members of the Conservative Party to decide which of the two gets the top job. The result will be announced on 5 September. The winner takes over the keys to Downing Street the very next day. There are similarities, but also big differences between the two candidates who will now campaign among party members throughout the summer. Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak was finance minister and, together with his wife Akshata Murthy, is among Britain’s richest. Photo: POOL / Reuters 42-year-old Minister of Finance until he resigned earlier in July Considered to lie politically towards the center in the Conservative Party Fined for breaking pandemic rules Fought for Britain to leave the EU Born in Southampton to Indian parents Educated at Oxford and Stanford universities Married and has two daughters The couple are together the 222nd richest in Britain, according to The Sunday Times Rich List, with a fortune of over £700 million Formerly worked for Goldman Sachs as a hedge fund manager Elected to Parliament from Richmond in Yorkshire As finance minister during the pandemic, Sunak became popular for providing support packages to the needy. But he has also increased the level of taxation, which has not been as popular in the Conservative Party. At the same time, he has received criticism from the opposition for not helping the many who are no longer able to pay their bills due to increased expenses. He is adamant that it is not right to lower the tax level now, but says that is the goal over time. He has recently had a swimming pool, gym and tennis court built on his property in North Yorkshire. Just heating the water in the pool is estimated to cost over NOK 150,000 annually. It resonates poorly with many who have to choose whether to spend their money on food or to pay bills. Sunak’s lifestyle has led people to ask whether he has the qualifications to understand how ordinary people experience the pressure on energy prices and in the economy in general. Liz Truss Liz Truss is Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Henry Nicholls / AP 46 years old (47 before she eventually becomes prime minister) Minister of Foreign Affairs since 15 September 2021 Is considered to be politically to the right in the Conservative Party Has held several different cabinet positions also under David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson Fought Britain to leave the EU, but later reversed course on the EU issue Born and educated in Oxford, but has also lived in Scotland, Leeds and Canada Was president of Oxford University’s Liberal Democrats Wants to reverse Sunak’s business tax increase Inspired by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan Married and have two daughters Elected to parliament from South West Norfolk Truss has been described as a favorite to succeed Boris Johnson. But her election campaign has not gone smoothly. She struggled in the competition with relatively unknown politicians, but still reached the final in the end. She has a reputation for getting things done. As foreign minister, she has, among other things, noted for harsh sanctions against Russia. She was also able to collect a political victory when she obtained the release of British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from many years of captivity in Iran. Truss wants to shrink the state and have lower taxes. The loss of income must be covered by paying off the country’s debt over a longer period. – Hasta la vista, baby Today Boris Johnson held his last Question Time as Prime Minister in the House of Commons. The British Parliament is on summer break this week. Although he will serve in the role until September 5, he used the opportunity to say thank you. – Hasta la vista, baby, he ended the session with. It means “until we meet again”, and is a quote taken from the movie Terminator. It is unclear what he meant by that, and also by another statement: – Mission by and large and all accomplished – this time around. Boris Johnson in his very last Question Time as Prime Minister in the House of Commons in the British Parliament. Photo: – / AFP A spokesman for the prime minister was asked afterwards if Johnson was already planning a comeback, but said only that this was his way of saying yes. Johnson has not given his support to any of his potential successors, but made what is being interpreted as a jab at his former finance minister and current leadership candidate Rishi Sunak in his closing speech to the House of Commons. – I love the Ministry of Finance, but if we had always listened to the Ministry of Finance, we would never have had the M25 (a motorway) or the tunnel under the (English) Channel built. That statement – in combination with the fact that he encouraged his successor to fight for Britain in the world – can be interpreted as a sign that he wants Foreign Minister Liz Truss to become the new British Prime Minister. Truss beats Sunak, poll shows It may also appear to be what the members of the Conservative Party want. They are the ones who will now choose the winner. While Rishi Sunak has led the polls among MPs, the mood is different among the nearly 200,000 members of the Conservative Party. In a recent survey YouGov has done among the members in parity, he loses the final. There, Liz Truss leads with 19 percentage points over the former finance minister. We will get the result on 5 September.
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