Tory leadership – live: Truss and Sunak debate cancelled after presenter faints on air

The second live head-to-head between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak has been cancelled after the debate’s moderator fainted mid-broadcast.

The Sun’s Showdown: The Fight for No 10 was abruptly taken off air after a big crash was heard in the TV studio.

In the few seconds before screens went blank, Ms Truss could be seem stepping off the podium where she was speaking with a concerned expression on her face.

TalkTV, the broadcaster hosting tonight’s debate, issued a statement confirming reports that political editor Kate McCann collapsed just over 30 minutes into presenting tonight’s proceedings.

Its statement reads: “Kate McCann fainted on air tonight and although she is fine, the medical advice was that we shouldn’t continue with the debate. We apologise to our viewers and listeners.”

Before the debate was halted, Mr Sunak said it was “entirely reasonable” to ask the largest companies to pay “a bit more” tax because they received taxpayer-funded support during the pandemic.

But Liz Truss, who would scrap the scheduled 19p to 25p increase in corporation tax, said the former chancellor’s policies would make the UK less competitive and push the country into recession.

Key points

• Conservative peers warn Truss-Sunak rows risk return of Nasty Party label

• Simon Clarke MP says Sunak was ‘extremely aggressive’ during debate

• Keir Starmer risks fresh clash by ordering Labour frontbenchers not to join picket lines

• Simon Clarke insists Truss’ economic plans would not be ‘inflationary'

• Tory candidates talked about ‘clothing and earrings instead of the health service’- Starmer

TalkTV pulls debate on ‘medical advice’ after moderator faints mid-broadcast

19:08 , Emily Atkinson

TalkTV have issued a statement confirming reports that debate moderator Kate McCann fainted in the middle of tonight’s leadership head-to-head.

The statement reads: “Kate McCann fainted on air tonight and although she is fine, the medical advice was that we shouldn’t continue with the debate. We apologise to our viewers and listeners.”

19:05 , Emily Atkinson

Senior Tories sent their best wishes to TalkTV political editor Kate McCann after she appeared to faint while moderating the Sun/TalkTV debate.

Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland tweeted that he hoped she was OK.

Foreign office minister Amanda Milling said: “She was doing a brilliant job. Get well soon!”

TalkTV presenter ‘faints’ mid leadership debate

18:57 , Emily Atkinson

A number of reports have now emerged which claim that the moderator for this evening’s leadership debate Kate McCann “fainted and collapsed” during the head-to-head.

The Sun’s Showdown: The Fight for No 10 - which saw readers of the newspaper asking questions to the No 10 hopefuls directly - was suddenly disrupted just over 30 minutes into the broadcast.

Sunak and Truss speak with audience amid debate disruption

18:54 , Emily Atkinson

Truss and Sunak TalkTV debate suddenly taken off air after big crash

18:51 , Emily Atkinson

Conservative leadership TV debate pulled off air after mysterious crash

18:41 , Emily Atkinson

A live debate featuring Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss on news channel TalkTV was abruptly taken off air after a loud crash was heard on-set.

In the few seconds before screens went blank, Ms Truss could be seem stepping off the podium where she was speaking with a concerned expression on her face.

Andrew Woodcock and Ashley Cowburn have this breaking story:

Conservative leadership TV debate pulled off air after mysterious crash

18:35 , Emily Atkinson

The Talk TV debate just went off air after big crash.

More details follow as we have them

18:33 , Emily Atkinson

Do you actually have the guts to stand up to Putin when he turns off the gas over the winter, the third reader asks the former chancellor.

“There are lots of different ways we can stand up to him,” Mr Sunak replies.

“And I am sure we will keep doing all of them - we certainly will under my leadership.”

18:27 , Emily Atkinson

The second question posed to the leadership hopefuls was based on the soaring cost of food.

Ms Truss suggested that “reducing regulation” was the means of “turbo-charging” what British farmers produce.

It’s “morally wrong” to put up taxes when people are struggling to pay for their food bills when we had a manifesto commitment not to put up taxes, the foreign secretary later added.

Sunak responded: “It’s entirely reasonable to ask the largest companies to pay a little bit more. They still will pay a very generous rate of tax compared to other countries. Liz wants to cut the tax for big business.”

18:19 , Emily Atkinson

“I’m committed to the extra money for the NHS” despite plans to scrap national insurance rise, says Truss.

“I spoke out in cabinet against it. I still remain opposed to it.”

The foreign secretary said she would instead fund the extra money pledged to the NHS using general taxation.

18:16 , Emily Atkinson

The first Sun reader out of the gate asks No 10 hopefuls Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak “why is the NHS broken?”

After hearing the pair’s answers, he says: “The Conservatives have had their chance already — and it’s still not enough for the NHS.”

18:15 , Emily Atkinson

We have anaemic growth in this country, Liz Truss said at the start of today’s TalkTV leadership debate.

“If we put up taxes, which Rishi is proposing… we’re more likely to heading for recession.”

She continued: “I know what it looks like when times are hard — people lose their jobs”.

18:09 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak opens his pitch to readers of The Sun by referencing the “immense challenges” facing Britain.

But we “shouldn’t lose heart...not least because of Brexit,” the former chancellor adds.

Asked to pose a question to Rishi Sunak, his opponent Liz Truss - who has promised to cut taxes - asks what he would do on day one of becoming prime minister to relieve those feeling the cost of living squeeze.

Mr Sunak starts by wishing Ms Truss a happy birthday.

In response to her question, he references his record of supporting people financially throughout the pandemic.

Truss and Sunak go head-to-head in second TV debate

18:01 , Emily Atkinson

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are going head-to-head in their second TV debate as the leadership contest reaches its final stages.

The Sun’s Showdown: The Fight for No 10 is being broadcast live on TalkTV and hosted by its political editor Kate McCann in front of a live studio audience.

Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will be asked questions by readers of The Sun newspaper to help Conservative party members decide which candidate to vote for.

It follows last night’s fiery BBC debate which saw supporters of Ms Truss accuse her rival of “mansplaining”.

Sadiq Khan says Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are both just 'continuity Boris Johnson'

17:32 , Emily Atkinson

Truss defends economic plan

17:14 , Emily Atkinson

Now is the time we need to get the economic growth into our economy to avoid a recession, Liz Truss has said in defence of her low taxation plans.

When told her economic policy is backed by a minority of economists, the foreign secretary told Sky News: “I don’t base my policies on the number of economists... The question is who is right.

“The fact is we are one of the few G7 countries that are putting up taxes.

“Countries like the United States, Canada, Japan have higher levels of debt than us.

“They are not putting up taxes because they understand that now is the time we need to get the economic growth into our economy to avoid a recession and to make sure that we are attracting business investment and those jobs and growth for the future.”

‘Kick in the teeth’: Black Labour MPs condemn party’s response to report uncovering ‘racism’

17:00 , Emily Atkinson

Black Labour MPs have attacked their party’s response to a damning report finding “overt and underlying racism” in its ranks, one calling it “a kick in the teeth”.

Keir Starmer is accused of claiming the problems had been overcome with the departure of Jeremy Corbyn and the “unacceptable culture” the former party leader fostered.

In fact, the Forde report found that factional infighting predated Mr Corbyn’s election in 2015 – and pointed to “continuing concerns” about Labour processes, Dawn Butler argued.

Our deputy political edtior Rob Merrick reports:

Opinion: Sunak and Truss have got it wrong on private education

I don’t take notice of RMT’s ‘bellicose threats’, says Truss

16:45 , Emily Atkinson

It is “completely wrong” that members of the public needing to travel are “being held ransom my militant unions”, Liz Truss has said.

Asked about the comments made by RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, the foreign secretary told Sky News: : “I don’t take any notice of these bellicose threats.

“I am on the side of the travelling public who need to get into work to do their jobs. We are facing a global economic crisis, it is completely irresponsible of the trade unions to call these strikes at the time as we are seeking to get the economy go. And I will legislate to make sure that those core services are provided to the public.”

Opinion: Sunak and Truss have got it wrong on private education

16:30 , Emily Atkinson

Separating children according to wealth (or according to their really, really hard working parents) perpetuates social inequality; removing kids from the state system makes that system worse for everyone. If the Tories really want to “level up”, they’ll stop at nothing to make comprehensive education first class so that everyone gets the same golden opportunities Sunak is so grateful he had, writes Harriet Toner.

Of course, this would mean the Tory politicians of the future wouldn’t be able to use their education as leverage to prove their ever-so-humble beginnings. But I think we’ll all cope.

Opinion: Sunak and Truss have got it wrong on private education

Sunak as PM would be ‘disaster’ for homeowners, says Truss

16:15 , Emily Atkinson

No 10 hopeful Liz Truss has suggested a Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak would be a “disaster” for homeowners, workers and businesses.

Speaking to Sky News, the foreign secretary was grilled about the IMF world economic update - which implied that not cutting taxes and keeping spending down is the way forward.

She said: “Let’s be clear, his (Rishi Sunak’s) plan is to raise taxes. He is planning to raise taxes on corporations, putting our taxes up to the same level as France. That is going to put off people who want to invest in Britain. And I know there are masses of opportunities right across the country.

“Less investment will mean fewer jobs, fewer opportunities, lower wages and lower productivity in the future. So it’s cutting off our nose to spite our face. The fact is that we promised in our manifesto not to raise national insurance. I thought it was wrong at the time to do so, and that is why I would reverse that.

“I also want to put money into people’s pockets. I could quote the OECD who said that our current policy is contractionary. And what that means is it will lead to a recession. A recession would be a disaster, it would be a disaster for people who are homeowners. It would be a disaster for people who go out to work. It would be a disaster for people who run businesses.

“That is why I want to keep taxes low, attract the investment, get the growth. That’s the best way to pay down our debt.”

‘I put my case across’: Truss comments on Sunak’s interruptions during debate

16:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

On whether she got annoyed by Rishi Sunak interrupting her during the BBC televised debate, Liz Truss told Sky News: “I put my case across. I think the audience understood what I was saying. And that I am on the side of people who work hard, who do the right thing.

“And that is the kind of government I would run. The fact is that the current business as usual policy isn’t working, is not delivering for people across Britain.

“I’m an optimist about the future. I think we are a country with great potential. And I want us to do more. I want us to be better. And I can lead that change.”

Brexit set to cause shortage of animal medicines in Northern Ireland

15:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson‘s Brexit deal is set to create a shortage of veterinary medicines for sick animals in Northern Ireland, a parliamentary committee has warned.

Over half of veterinary medicines used in the territory are expected to be become unavailable when the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by the UK and EU comes into full force at the end of the year, writes Jon Stone.

The EU has so far extended grace periods on the medicines to allow them to be used in Northern Ireland until the end of 2022 – but supply chains are yet to adjust and MPs and ministers say they are extremely concerned.

Drugs affected are expected to include those for cardiovascular conditions, anaesthetics and vaccines, including those that prevent salmonella and E. coli.

Brexit set to cause shortage of most animal medicines in Northern Ireland

‘Utter madness’: Truss and Sunak accused of failing to address climate crisis ‘as the world is dying’

15:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Viewers of the Tory leadership contest could be forgiven for thinking the world isn’t in the grip of a climate emergency.

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and home secretary Liz Truss have been accused of a lack of ambition and knowledge on the subject in their exchanges on Monday evening, despite last weeks record UK temperatures.

The climate crisis was spoken about for less than two minutes during the hour long programme, with more time dedicated to discussions on what clothes and jewellery the candidates were wearing.

Our environment correspondent Harry Cockburn writes:

Truss and Sunak accused of failing to tackle climate crisis ‘as the world is dying’

ICYMI- Truss supporters accuse Sunak of ‘mansplaining’ during BBC debate

15:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Liz Truss supporters have accused her rival Rishi Sunak of “mansplaining” during last night’s fiery BBC debate in the first head-to-head between the last two candidates.

However, while Simon Clarke MP did not agree when probed if Mr Sunak did ‘mansplain’, he flagged the former budget chancellor’s “aggressive” appoach at the start of the debate.

Pollster: Leadership barbs to linger for longer among Tory MPs than voters

14:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tory MPs rather than voters are likely to remember the leadership contest insults for longer, according to a Conservative pollster.

Lord Hayward, a former MP and current Tory peer, believes the tone of the campaign will have a short-term impact on the wider electorate, although other issues will be more important to them by the next general election.

But the “more immediate, difficult and possibly slightly longer-lasting” impact of the campaign will be within the Conservative parliamentary party itself, Lord Hayward added.

My colleague Richard Wheeler has more:

Pollster: Leadership barbs to linger for longer among Tory MPs than voters

Tory leadership odds: Liz Truss strengthens lead after TV clash with Rishi Sunak

14:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Liz Truss strengthened her lead over Tory leadership rival Rishi Sunak following last night’s TV debate, a bookmaker says.

The foreign secretary and former chancellor traded blows on the cost of living crisis, taxation and the economy in a lively contest on BBC One.

Both candidates defied warnings by Tory Party grandees to keep the debate clean as they engaged in personal attacks during the hour-long discussion.

Ms Truss accused her rival of “project fear” after he warned that her tax-cutting plans would lead to rising interest rates, while Mr Sunak reminded the former international trade secretary of her support for Remain in the Brexit referendum.

My colleague Matt Mathers has more:

Liz Truss strengthens lead after TV clash with Rishi Sunak

‘This stinks’: Government accused of hiding from scrutiny over sewage in rivers

14:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The government has been accused of trying to hide a lack of action over the dumping of sewage into rivers and coastlines around England.

Ministers were told their approach to transparency “absolutely stinks” after they refused to disclose to MPs if and when they had met with water bosses to solve the problem.

It comes after the government was placed under investigation by the environment regulator for allegedly failing in its duties to manage the quality of water.

Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has more:

‘This stinks’: Government accused of hiding from scrutiny over sewage in rivers

Tory MPs likely to remember leadership race insults longer than voters, pollster shows

14:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tory MPs rather than voters are likely to remember the leadership contest insults for longer, according to a Conservative pollster.

Lord Hayward, a former MP and current Tory peer, believes the tone of the campaign will have a short-term impact on the wider electorate, although other issues will be more important to them by the next general election.

But the “more immediate, difficult and possibly slightly longer-lasting” impact of the campaign will be within the Conservative parliamentary party itself, Lord Hayward added.

This will require either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss to create the circumstances under which the “previous frictions disappear”, he said.

Pledge to ban fur and foie gras imports kicked into long grass, minister admits

14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A promise to ban imports of fur and foie gras has been effectively ditched after a cabinet revolt, a government minister has confirmed.

Zac Goldsmith had pledged that the restrictions – once hailed as a key post-Brexit freedom – would go ahead by next year, insisting he was “completely committed” to them.

But the environment minister has now admitted the government is merely considering “any further steps that could be taken” and “potential action” on the controversies.

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more:

Pledge to ban fur and foie gras imports kicked into long grass, minister admits

UK sanctions nephews of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov

13:15 , PA

The UK has sanctioned Sarvar and Sanjar Ismailov, nephews of major Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov who has close ties to the Kremlin.

Sarvar Ismailov was previously a director at Everton Football Club and both have significant interests in the UK, the Foreign Office said.

The leaders of the Moscow-backed breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine have also been hit with sanctions.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said: “We will not keep quiet and watch Kremlin-appointed state actors suppress the people of Ukraine or the freedoms of their own people.

“We will continue to impose harsh sanctions on those who are trying to legitimise (Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion until Ukraine prevails.”

Most Tory members still prefer Truss after BBC debate - poll

12:45 , Lamiat Sabin

A new YouGov poll of 507 Conservative Party members has been conducted after the BBC showdown between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

The results show that Ms Truss was rated more “in touch with ordinary people, likeable and trustworthy” than her rival.

The pair just about drew on the question of who was more “prime ministerial”.

Truss ‘did speak out’ against proposed increase to NI, Simon Clarke insists

12:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke has said Liz Truss “has been a consistent advocate for a pro-growth approach to the economy”, adding “she did speak out” against the proposed increase to national insurance.

Watch the full clip here:

Cabinet minister defends Sunak for his ‘robust’ debate approach

12:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cabinet minister Robert Buckland, who is supporting Rishi Sunak for the Tory leadership, defended the need for “robust debate” in the contest.

The Welsh Secretary told reporters: “There’s this balance to be struck between having a vigorous debate and being sort of almost too polite to each other.

“I think it’s inevitable that you’re going to have candidates disagreeing, and frankly, we need to hear what the arguments are.

“We shouldn’t shy away from robust debate, which is what we’re getting. I think it’s refreshing and good.”

Truss and Sunak to clash again in second head-to-head debate tonight

11:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will clash on TV for a second time in 24 hours after the first head-to-head debate saw the two contenders to be the next prime minister tear strips off each other over their economic plans.

The foreign secretary, who is celebrating her 47th birthday on Tuesday, and the former chancellor will face each other in a TalkTV/Sun event at 6pm, with both sides hoping to learn tactical lessons from the BBC clash on Monday night.

That showdown saw the two rivals for the Tory leadership trash each other’s economic plans, while personal attacks continued with Mr Sunak accused by allies of Ms Truss of “mansplaining” during the debate.

Mr Sunak claimed there is “nothing Conservative” about Ms Truss’s approach to cutting taxes and pumping up borrowing, arguing it would give the party “absolutely no chance” of winning the next election.

Foreign Secretary Ms Truss, in turn, suggested her rival would lead the country into a recession and criticised him for increasing taxes to the “highest rate in 70 years”.

BBC's Faisal Islam says Liz Truss's plan to extend Covid debt would increase not cut taxes

11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Why are we so obsessed with the cost of Liz Truss’s earrings?

11:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

“Six whole minutes. Six minutes – a not insubstantial amount of time given the entire Tory leadership TV debate was given 60 – yes, an hour of our lives – and six of those were spent dissecting the price of Liz Truss’s earrings, writes Victoria Richards.

“Forget the cost of living, the NHS or tax cuts – were they from Claire’s Accessories? That’s what the country wants to know, Liz – we demand it! We deserve to know whether your jewellery of choice set you back £4.50 from a high street retailer that it’s impossible to get away from without them basically paying you to take stuff; where the entire experience (as any parent of a pre-teen child will know) is based on going in and getting handed a basket and ‘buying five and getting four free’, or buying one and being begged to take seven more, in different neon hues. And one inexplicably has an avocado on it.”

Opinion: Why are we so obsessed with the cost of Liz Truss’s earrings?

New opinion poll shows Starmer would beat both Truss and Sunak

11:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A new opinion polling has showed that if Liz Truss MP or Rishi Sunak MP were to face Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer MP - neither would win.

The poll showed that 40 per cent of voters would choose Mr Starmer, while 39 per cent would choose Ms Truss.

Against the Labour leader, Mr Sunak only gained 36 per cent of the votes.

Conservative peers warn Truss-Sunak rows risk return of Nasty Party label

10:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Conservative peers have warned personal attacks during the leadership race risks the return of the ‘nasty party’ label for the Tories.

The contest between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss has resulted in jeers about each other’s outfits and upbringing during last night’s BBC debate, leading to “embarrassing” and divisive politics.

Lord Fowler, who served under Margaret Thatcher and is now a crossbench peer, warned that the candidates’ rows with each other will once again give the Tories a reputation of being the “nasty party”- as they were referred to in the 1980s under John Major.

“If I was to advise the Conservative Party to remember one thing it’s that a divided party simply doesn’t get elected,” he said speaking toThe Times.

Lord Maude of Horsham, a formerTory chairman, told BBC Radio 4: “One is obviously going to win the leadership, but if the behaviour of the teams and their language has been uncontrolled, and it has damaged the party’s standing or the way people see the party, then it could end up being a pyrrhic victory.”

Lord Trimble was a ‘courageous man’, Stormont Assembly speaker says

10:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former Alliance Party leader and Stormont Assembly speaker Lord Alderdice said Lord Trimble took “extraordinary risks” to help deliver the Good Friday Agreement.

The peer told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: “He was a courageous man.

“Courage isn’t in standing against your opponents, it is in standing against people from your own part of the community when you know that something different has to be done for the wellbeing of everyone.

“There are many politicians who stick their finger up in the air and see what way the wind is blowing.

“David Trimble wasn’t like that, he tried to work out what was right and what was good and what was the best thing to do for Northern Ireland, for his community, even if it involved risk and sacrifice on his own part.

“Present and future generations in politics and beyond will continue to owe him far more than they ever know.”

Lord Alderdice added: “In terms of politics David Trimble took extraordinary risks with great courage and stuck with it and history will judge him kindly because of that.”

ICYMI- ‘The Forde report proves that Labour’s sickness is down to its right wing'

10:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

“After the release of the Forde report last week, you can probably see why other parties don’t tend to make a lot of room for people who are directly opposed to their stated goals,” writes Ryan Coogan.

“According to the report, Labour officials worked against the interests of their own party in order to undermine its then-leader Jeremy Corbyn and the party’s left wing as a whole, going so far as to divert campaign resources away from winnable seats and towards candidates who were anti-Corbyn.

“This conspiracy was documented in a series of WhatsApp messages, in which those involved discussed “protecting the party from Jeremy Corbyn rather than helping him to advance his agenda”.

Opinion: The Forde report proves that Labour’s sickness is down to its right wing

Voices: Why Liz Truss will be Britain’s next prime minister

10:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

“There’s a simple answer to why Liz Truss will be Britain’s next prime minister: all the surveys of Conservative Party members so far show she would beat Rishi Sunak,” Sunny Hundal writes.

“This is true even after last night’s BBC debate between the two. Although a poll taken immediately after the debate showed both of them basically level-pegging, Truss was ahead among people who voted Conservative in 2019.

So, barring any big slip-ups from the Truss campaign, she should be our next prime minister.”

Opinion: Why Liz Truss will be Britain’s next prime minister

Goverment’s job is to create ‘framework for success’ in pay negotiations

10:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer declined to say whether a Labour government would give public sector workers the inflation-matching pay rises they want, saying the government’s job is to “create the framework for success” in pay negotiations.

The Labour leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I completely understand why so many working people with stagnant wages and high prices need to see some movement.

“I support the right to strike but I think the role of government is to facilitate, make sure those negotiations take place to an agreed settlement.

“But what we’re not seeing from this government is a government that’s prepared to lift a finger to make sure we get an outcome.”

Sir Keir also told BBC Breakfast: “An incoming Labour government would put in place stronger employment rights for people from day one in the job...

“Each sector is having separate discussions, and I think we’ve got to let that process play out; that happens every year. What the government needs to do is to provide the framework for a successful outcome because nobody wants disputes.”

Keir Starmer risks fresh clash by ordering Labour frontbenchers not to join picket lines

09:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Keir Starmer has set up a fresh clash with his own senior MPs by again ordering them to stay away from picket lines mounted by striking workers.

Several shadow ministers defied the Labour leader by joining protests during last month’s rail dispute – after which he backed down on a threat to discipline them.

But Sir Keir has waded back into the controversy, ahead of fresh rail strikes and the Royal Mail dispute, saying: “The Labour party in opposition needs to be the Labour party in power.

“And a government doesn’t go on picket lines, a government tries to resolve disputes,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

Keir Starmer risks clash by ordering Labour frontbenchers not to join picket lines

Former Cabinet minister says Truss’ plan will raise mortgage rates by 10 per cent

09:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former Cabinet minister David Davis, a supporter of Rishi Sunak, said he is a low-tax Tory, but said the policy Liz Truss wants to pursue will push the base interest rate to seven per cent which he says will result in mortgage rates of up to 10 per cent.

Asked what Mr Sunak has to do to win, Mr Davis told Sky News: “I think you’ve got to win the arguments, and the arguments that matter, which is why the seven per cent matters.

“That’s why that matters. It’s very important. The Tory Party, generally speaking, is a bit older than average. It’s a little bit more middle class, but not so much these days, but a little bit more middle class.

“It will care about things like their offspring having to face these sorts of interest rates in the future, so that matters.

“He also has to get across to them that he’s a great believer in the country.

“Tories are a very patriotic party, so is Rishi, and he’s shown it by the tough decisions he had to take.”

Simon Clarke insists Truss’ economic plans would not be ‘inflationary'

09:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Simon Clarke MP said that can see no evidence that Liz Truss’ economic plan would “be inflationary”.

“Instead it’s about supporting jobs and families at a time when we know there’s a lot of hardship out there and we know that the tax burden is very high,” he told Sky News.

Watch the full clip here:

Liz Truss backer reveals anger at Rishi Sunak for ‘interrupting’ her during stormy TV debate

09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A senior Liz Truss supporter has revealed her anger at Rishi Sunak for constantly “interrupting” her during their stormy TV debate, when they clashed over tax cuts and the economy.

The Tory leadership race favourite was captured shaking her head as the former chancellor talked over her – prompting accusations that Mr Sunak was guilty of mansplaining.

Simon Clarke, who is tipped to be Ms Truss’s chancellor if she wins the contest for No 10, criticised Mr Sunak, while insisting he would still be welcomed into her cabinet, Rob Merrick writes.

Liz Truss backer reveals anger at Sunak for ‘interrupting’ her in TV debate

Starmer says he will his frontbench not to go the picket lines during strikes

08:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer said he will again tell his shadow frontbench not to go on the picket lines outside railway stations during upcoming strikes.

The Labour leader told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “It’s quite open to people to express their support for working people who are struggling to pay their bills, but I’m very clear that the Labour Party in opposition needs to be the Labour Party in power.

“And a government doesn’t go on picket lines, a government tries to resolve disputes...

“I’m so frustrated with our government because they could step in and help solve the dispute... I think the government just wants to feed on the division”.

Starmer distances himself from Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto

08:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer distanced himself further from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto for government as he stressed his “pragmatic” approach to nationalising utilities.

The Labour leader told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I don’t want a Labour Party that, as it was in 2019, was basically saying we can spend on anything.

“We’ve reversed those 2019 manifesto positions because we needed to show the country that we’re credible, we’re responsible on the economy”.

He indicated that nationalisation would not be his preferred approach for water, energy and mail.

“If I’ve got choices to make, and there are other ways of fixing the market, then I’m a pragmatist and will go to the other ways of fixing the market”.

He said railways are “different”, as “large parts are in public ownership... and we wouldn’t alter that”.

Asked about nationalising Royal Mail, Sir Keir said: “It’s very hard to see how you can nationalise within the fiscal rules, but that’s not to say that there isn’t a problem that needs fixing there”.

Simon Clarke MP says Sunak was ‘extremely aggressive’ during debate

08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

When probed on whether Rishi Sunak was “mansplaining” during the debate, as he was accused by a viewer, Simon Clarke MP said: "He was certainly extremely aggressive in the early moments of the debate.”

The chief secretary to the Treasury added: “I’ve always found Rishi very reasonable to work but it was certainly a very intense approach to the early moments of the debate.”

Tory candidates talked about ‘clothing and earrings instead of the health service’

08:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer has said the Tory leadership candidates were talking about “clothing and earrings instead of the health service”.

He added: “If ever there was an example of a party that’s absolutely lost the plot, lost any sense of purpose, it was that debate last night.”

Labour would stick to plans to nationalise railways, Starmer says

08:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer has said an incoming Labour government would stick to plans to nationalise the railways, while he is taking a “pragmatic approach” on water, energy and mail.

The Labour leader told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “If there’s a broken market, in what way can that market be mended?

“If it can be mended with regulation, that that is a route that we could go down”.

He went on to say: “Whilst pragmatic approaches is really driving me on this, rail is a bit of an outlier because obviously large parts of rail are already in public ownership, and we would continue that, so the rail situation is different because of the way their contracts are run.

“But for me, I’m not ideological where I say public is good, private is bad or private is good, public is bad”.

Sir Keir stressed the party has “quite strong fiscal rules” in place and that “after Covid, there is a question of what we can afford going into that election”.

Starmer says he is a man of 'principle and integrity’

07:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

When asked by a BBC Breakfast presenter on what kind of person he is, Sir Keir Starmer referred to his investigation by Durham police.

He emphasised that his willingness to resign if he was fined showed that he is “the kind of person who would put [his] entire career on the line as a matter of principle and integrity”.

Starmer says Tory leadership race has ‘paralysed’ government

07:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour’s leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the Tory leadership contest has “paralysed” the government while the public continues to struggle amid a devastating cost of living crisis.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Mr Starmer said: “We’ve got a government with its head in the sand, paralysed by this leadership contest going on.”

He added that the two Tory candidates are “talking about anything other than the practical steps” which will help people emerge from the cost of living crisis.

ICYMI- Rishi Sunak says Liz Truss risks tipping millions into ‘economic misery’ in acrimonious head-to-head debate

07:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak has warned Liz Truss risks tipping millions into “economic misery” and fuelling inflation with her economic proposals, as the pair trashed each other’s policy platforms in an acrimonious debate.

Hitting out the foreign secretary’s £30bn-plus tax cut plans, the former chancellor claimed there was “nothing Conservative” about her approach, with the party having “absolutely no chance” of winning the next election, Ashley Cowburn writes.

In their first head-to-head debate in the final stage of the Tory leadership contest, Ms Truss hit back, accusing Mr Sunak of “scaremongering” and “Project Fear” — a term Brexiteers used to dismiss the economic warnings of the Remain camp in 2016.

Sunak says Truss risks tipping millions into ‘economic misery’ in acrimonious debate

Tory leadership debate: Key moments from Truss v Sunak head-to-head

07:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Government ‘does not know’ whether coronavirus traffic light system worked

07:00 , Namita Singh

Nearly half a billion pounds was spent implementing the coronavirus traffic light system for international travel but the Government “does not know” whether it worked, according to MPs.

The testing and quarantine requirements for people arriving in the UK were changed 10 times between February 2021 and January 2022, a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) stated.

In May 2021 the traffic light system was introduced, which set the rules for arrivals from every country depending on whether it was on the red, amber or green list.

Arrivals from red list countries had to stay in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days.

Read the details in this report:

Government ‘does not know’ whether coronavirus traffic light system worked – MPs

Liz Truss accused of attempting to erode workers’ rights with plans to raise ballot thresholds for strikes

06:41 , Namita Singh

Liz Truss has been accused of inflaming divisions and attempting to erode workers’ rights with proposals to raise ballot threshold for industrial action and minimum service levels during strikes.

The Tory leadership contender said she will introduce legislation targeting “militant action” from trade unions in the first 30 days of taking office if she wins the race to succeed Boris Johnson in No 10.

The commitment comes as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators prepare to walk out on Wednesday in an ongoing dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government and transport secretary, Grant Shapps, to “stop blocking an agreement that will end the dispute” and get around the negotiating table.

Read the details from our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn:

Tory leadership contender Liz Truss plans to raise ballot thresholds for strikes

Opinion: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss really do hate eachother

06:35 , Namita Singh

Does it matter, anymore, which one of them wins? Will anyone even know? The next election is only two years away, by which point anyone who watched the BBC leaderships debate will still be so haunted by the program’s first 15 seconds that they will be incapable of any meaningful interaction with the world around them, writes our political sketch writer Tom Peck.

One thing became clear, that Sunak and Truss visibly hate each other

Spending gap between London and North doubles despite Johnson’s ‘levelling up’ pledge

06:35 , Namita Singh

The gap in public spending between London and the North has doubled since Boris Johnson came to power, despite his pledge to “level up” the country, new figures reveal.

The capital has surged ahead of England’s poorest region in terms of cash handed out by the government – proving that “the money simply didn’t follow the rhetoric”, according to the think tank behind the analysis.

The data also shows that, three years after the prime minister stood outside No 10 and vowed to level up the nation, public spending in the North has now fallen behind the average for England.

Labour said the findings were “scandalous”, but the UK’s regional inequalities have barely featured in the Conservative leadership contest, which has instead been dominated by discussion of tax cuts and hardline policies on immigration.

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:

Spending gap between London and North doubles despite PM’s ‘levelling up’ pledge

No space for Johnson in the cabinet, say Tory PM candidates as they rate his performance

06:20 , Namita Singh

Liz Truss said she would give Boris Johnson a rating of 7/10 for his performance as prime minister, while Rishi Sunak said he would give the former prime minister a score of 10/10 for delivering Brexit.

“My views are clear, when he was great he was great and it got to a point where we need to move forward. In delivering a solution to Brexit and winning an election that’s a 10/10 – you’ve got to give the guy credit for that, no one else could probably have done that,” he said.

Both the candidates however, ruled out a job for Mr Johnson in their cabinet, with Ms Truss saying she believes he “needs a well-earned break”.

“I am sure he will have a role, I am sure he will be vocal but he will not be part of the government,” she said. Mr Sunak was more direct in his reply by saying: “The simple answer for me is no.”

Sunak a ‘very well-dressed man’, says Truss to culture secretary’s criticism of his clothing

06:00 , Namita Singh

Liz Truss sidestepped the opportunity to distance herself from the comments by the culture secretary, who mocked Rishi Sunak’s expensive clothing.

Earlier Nadine Dorreis had mocked the former chancellor for wearing expensive clothing as she pointed to the reports that he has been pictured wearing a £3,500 suit and £490 Prada shoes.

In a tweet, she said that by contrast, Ms Truss would be travelling the country with £4.50 earrings from high street chain Claire’s.

In Monday night’s debate, Ms Truss said would not give fashion advice to her rival, as she described him as a “very well-dressed man” when asked about the criticism made by culture secretary.

Ms Truss was also asked about her suggestion that her comprehensive school background would make her a better prime minister.

Mr Sunak said he was “certainly not going to apologise” for his parents working hard to send him to a private school, with Ms Truss replying: “Winchester is a very, very good school, and I would love people for right across the country to have the opportunity to go to a school like that.”

Tory premiership candidates trade barbs over relationship with China

05:56 , Namita Singh

Liz Truss accused Rishi Sunak of “pushing for closer trade relationships” with China while the former chancellor said, “Liz has been on a journey” to get to a point where she opposes closer ties.

The foreign secretary also demanded a “tougher stance” on technology companies such as the Chinese-owned app TikTok.

“We have to learn the mistakes we made of Europe becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas, we cannot allow that to happen with China,” she stressed.

And she also accused Mr Sunak of pushing for a closer trading relationship with Beijing while working at the Treasury, adding: “I’m delighted that you’ve come round to my way of thinking.”

Truss attacks former chancellor for raising taxes ‘to the highest rate in 70 years’

05:41 , Namita Singh

Liz Truss accused Rishi Sunak of raising the taxes to the highest rate in last 70 years in Tuesday’s blue-on-blue attack during the BBC debate.

Slamming the economic policy of her rival, Ms Truss said: “No other country is putting up taxes at this moment, the OECD has described Rishi’s policies as contractionary.”

“What does contractionary mean? It means it will lead to a recession. We know what happens when there’s a recession.”

Mr Sunak spoke over Ms Truss and warned inflation was a problem in the 1980s and it is a “problem we have now”.

He added: “Liz, your plans, your own economic adviser has said that will lead to mortgage interest rates going up to 7 per cent, can you imagine what that’s going to do for everyone here and everyone watching, that’s thousands of pounds on their mortgage bill?

“It’s going to tip millions of people into misery and it’s going to mean we have absolutely no chance of winning the next election either.”

Ms Truss highlighted that Mr Sunak wants to raise corporation tax this autumn at a time of a “global economic crisis”.

Liz Truss

Sunak accuses Truss of risking millions into ‘economic misery’

05:29 , Namita Singh

Trashing the policy plans of foreign secretary, Rishi Sunak accused her of tipping millions into “economic misery and fuelling inflation as he hit out at her tax cut plans.

Claiming that there was “nothing Conservative” about her approach, with the party having “absolutely no chance” of winning the next election, he said” “You’ve promised over £40 billion of unfunded tax cuts - £40 billion more borrowing.

“That is the country’s credit card and it’s our children and grandchildren, everyone here’s kids will pick up the tab for that.

“You’ve promised over £40 billion of unfunded tax cuts - £40 billion more borrowing.

“That is the country’s credit card and it’s our children and grandchildren, everyone here’s kids will pick up the tab for that.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:

Sunak says Truss risks tipping millions into ‘economic misery’ in acrimonious debate

05:14 , Namita Singh

Welcome to The Independent’s UK politics blog for Tuesday, 26 July 2022 where we provide the latest from Westminster.