After four televised debates with audiences largely made up of swing voters, the leadership candidates finally faced off with members of the Tory party who will choose Britain’s next prime minister. The two-hour event in Leeds was the first of 12 to be held across the country before voting closes on September 2. Tory accuses Sunak of ‘backstabbing Johnson’ – live updates Here’s a rundown of the biggest talking points. secretarial schools Mr Sunak received applause when he said he would support the return of secondary schools. Asked in a quick question if he supported the controversial move, he said: “Yes.” Mr Sunak, who was privately educated, said he believed in “educational excellence” and that education “is the most powerful way to transform lives”. But he said improving the UK school system “is not about throwing more money at the problem”. He said: “It’s about reforming the system to get better results. And that’s what I would do with education as well.” New grammar schools were outlawed in 1998 when Labor banned the creation of new selective state schools – saying they disadvantaged children from poorer backgrounds. Northern Powerhouse Rail Mrs Truss drew on her Yorkshire roots in her bid to win over northern audiences – although there was an awkward silence when she announced she was now a supporter of Norwich City FC. However, the Secretary of State received a warm welcome when she reiterated her commitment to the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme to improve transport links between Liverpool and Leeds. This was initially announced by Boris Johnson but was later scaled back – leading to accusations that the government had “betrayed” the North. Ms Truss said it was not acceptable that Leeds was the “biggest city in Europe without its own tube system”. He said he used to ice skate in Bradford and transport links had not improved much since then. She said the NPR would help level her agenda, adding that she would level up in a “conservative way” through low-tax zones in areas “that have been left behind, so we’re leveling the playing field.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:45 An audience member at the first Tory leadership missions said many people still support Boris Johnson and Sunak denies the tax reversal and backstabs Johnson Mr Sunak, who is trailing behind Ms Truss in Conservative Party member polls, has emerged as the underdog who has “not taken the easy way out” with his plans to keep major tax cuts at bay. In his opening speech he warned it was not responsible to “mortgage our children’s and grandchildren’s futures to make our lives easier now” – in a veiled dig at Mrs Truss’ plans to cut taxes immediately if she becomes prime minister. But it came back to bite him when he was asked if he had “ruled out” his stance on tax after announcing a cut in VAT on energy bills to help with the cost of living crisis, despite repeatedly calling the tax cuts “immoral”. “Because of inflation. Mr. Sunak denied he was being replaced, saying his plans were time-bound and temporary. The former chancellor also denied backstabbing Boris Johnson by quitting earlier this month, saying he had “no choice” but to leave. Truss asked if he would “accidentally take us into World War 3” During the grilling, Ms Truss was asked if she would “accidentally lead us into World War Three” after her strong comments about Ukraine. She said she considers it a “badge of pride” to be sanctioned by the Russian regime. He said the UK’s response to the war had “encouraged our allies in the free world”, adding that it would be “absolutely wrong to listen to the rattle or the propaganda” from Russia. Asked if Russia’s threats of nuclear war concerned her, she said “Putin has said all kinds of things” that have not come true. He also faced an awkward question about the monarchy. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:27 “Why were you so rude?” Presenter Nick Ferrari asked whether the Queen could bring Mrs Truss’s voting record to the fore if she becomes prime minister – as when she was a Lib Dem in 1994, she had voted to abolish the monarchy. Ms Truss took the question in good humor and said that in previous meetings with the Queen, the monarch had been “very kind to touch on what I’ve said before”. Truss supports single-sex toilets Asked for her views on single-sex toilets, Ms Truss said she believed individual spaces should be protected, particularly for young people and vulnerable women in domestic violence shelters. Ms Truss says teenagers “should have the privacy you need in your own toilet”. Read more: Boris Johnson ‘put off in a coup’, Nadine Dorries claimsWhat happens now only Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are in the contest? Asked what options there should be for young people in transition, she says schools can provide additional facilities, but “it shouldn’t be at the expense of protecting young girls”. She adds: “I don’t believe that under-18s should be able to make irreversible decisions about their bodies that they may later regret.” Immigration Mr Sunak also received applause for his tough stance on immigration. He says it is one of the issues he wants to “tackle as quickly as possible” as prime minister and says there is a 10-point plan on his website. However, he lists some of the main points of his policy. Mr. Sunak says he wants: • Raise the definition of what counts as asylum • Help people get through the asylum system faster • Send back more failed asylum seekers • See UK rejection and acceptance rates for asylum seekers Island of Love On a lighter note, Ms Truss said she was “absolutely horrified” by Love Island and turned it off within 10 minutes of watching it with her daughter. If you’re not up to date with the latest from Casa Amor, Ofcom received more than 5,000 complaints about the show in a week – most of them relating to alleged misogynistic behavior by some of the male contestants. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will take part in a live debate on Sky News on Thursday 4 August at 8pm hosted by Kay Burley. If you would like to join the live studio audience and have the opportunity to ask a question, please apply here.
