Conservative party members will choose between former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson after MPs eliminated the third candidate Penny Mordaunt. Mr Sunak topped the poll in the final ballot of MPs with 137 votes, Ms Truss won 113 votes and Ms Mordaunt 105.
Recent polls of the Conservative party membership put Ms Truss ahead but Mr Sunak said members had to ask themselves who was best placed to defeat Labour’s Keir Starmer at the next general election.
“I believe I’m the only candidate who can do that. My values are also those of our members and I’ve got the experience and the vision to translate those values into a government that delivers for the British people and ensures this is the best country to live, work and raise a family, anywhere in the world,” he told Sky News.
“People know my track record. I helped get this country through an incredibly difficult period over the last couple of years. I supported people who needed our help at every step with interventions like the furlough. That’s what people can expect from me going forward. And at a time of challenge I think we need someone who’s got the experience to do that.”
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Party members will receive ballot packs at the beginning of August and they can vote by post or online but all ballots must be received by 5pm on September 2nd and the result will be announced three days later. Ms Truss, who was backed by some of Mr Johnson’s closest allies, said she would work night and day to get her message across to members.
“As prime minister I would hit the ground running from day one, unite the party and govern in line with Conservative values,” she said.
Labour’s shadow minister for portfolio Conor McGinn dismissed the Conservative leadership race as a contest between two continuity candidates. “Both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are stooges of the Johnson administration whose fingerprints are all over the state the country finds itself in today. Both are now desperately trying to distance themselves from the Tory record of the last 12 years. But both have backed every decision, including every one of Boris Johnson’s 15 tax rises,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Boris Johnson defended his record in office during his final prime minister’s questions and offered some advice to his successor.
“Number one: stay close to the Americans, stick up for the Ukrainians, stick up for freedom and democracy everywhere. Cut taxes and deregulate wherever you can to make this the greatest place to live and invest, which it is,” he said.
“I love the Treasury, but remember that if we’d always listened to the Treasury we wouldn’t have built the M25 or the Channel Tunnel. Focus on the road ahead, but always remember to check the rear view mirror. And remember, above all, it’s not Twitter that counts – it’s the people that sent us here.”
Mr Johnson said being prime minister had been the greatest privilege of his life, reminding MPs that he had won the biggest Conservative majority in 40 years and realigned British politics. And he hinted at the possibility of a political comeback in the future.
“We’ve transformed our democracy and restored our national independence. I’ve helped get this country through a pandemic and help save another country from barbarism. And frankly that’s enough to be getting on with. Mission largely accomplished – for now,” he said.
“I want to thank everybody here. And hasta la vista, baby.”
