Two candidates are running for the post of UK Prime Minister

Published on 07/21/2022 06:00

(Credit: Hannah McKay/AFP)

On the one hand, Indian-origin Briton Rishi Sunak, 42, a former finance minister, graduated from the prestigious Oxford University with degrees in politics, philosophy and economics. On the other hand, Liz Truss, 46, Foreign Minister from 2021 and former Justice Minister; Graduated from Merton College with degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. One of them will be the next leader of the Conservative Party and, consequently, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In a vote among parliamentarians to choose the two final candidates for the position of head of government, Sunak won 113 votes to 137. Foreign Trade Minister Benny Mordant was ousted with 105 votes. Both will compete for the 200,000-strong Conservative Party’s postal vote. The name of the new prime minister is expected to be approved on September 5.

In an interview Mail, Anthony Cleese, emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, said he believed Sunak would be better for England than Truss. “Although Sunak is center-right, Truss is hard-right. Sunak understands that inflation needs to be controlled, while Truss says he wants to cut taxes, which means more money in the economy and more debt. Inflation.”

According to Cleese, Sunak had always believed in Brexit – a divorce between the United Kingdom and the European Union – but realized that the British economy needed to avoid further friction with the joint. “Truss wanted the UK to remain in the EU, but like outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he combined pressure from lawmakers. Both Sunak and Truss are staunch supporters of Johnson. However, Sunak had to resign, not because of Trump’s policy. Government, but because of Johnson’s own personality. ” he noted.

Cleese thinks Truss will be the pick, despite citing Sunak as the top choice. He doubts that 180,000 members of the Conservative Party are voting for the Indian-origin Hindu billionaire, and points out that Sunak’s wife, Akshada Murthy, is richer than Queen Elizabeth II. “Polls point to a win for Truss. She is Boris Johnson’s successor. Brexit-induced chaos will shape UK politics until the general election,” Glees concluded.

pragmatism

Nick Turnbull, a professor of politics at the University of Manchester, recalled the report, highlighting his history as finance minister and suggesting that Mr Sunak presents himself as a pragmatist as the most palatable option for the current moment in the UK. “But being chief minister is about more than managing the economy. He says he’s best placed to win the election, but I find it hard to see him being very popular with non-aligned voters.”

According to Turnbull, Truss portrays himself as a Thatcherite, adept at reduced government and lower taxes. “This is not credible and only pleases Conservative Party members. Although Sunak is very popular with MPs, Truss is favored by Conservative Party members. Both hope to regain the trust of the middle class, but the conditions are very difficult.”

I think…

“I suspect Liz Truss will be very committed to the party’s populist right-wing agenda – tax cuts and a tough stance on the Northern Ireland protocol. That’s why she has little chance of winning.”

Andrew Bligh is Director of the Department of Political Economy at King’s College London