Controversy raged between Downing Street candidates a crucial week ago

The candidates to succeed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met on Sunday evening July 17 in a second television debate that was even more lively than the previous one, as they began a crucial week in the race for Downing Street.

They are still five in the race for power that kicked off yet On July 7, Boris Johnson announced the resignationwhich was swept by a torrent of departures due to a torrent of scandals and lies.

Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Trade, former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, Chief Diplomat Liz Truss, former Secretary of State for Equality Kimi Badenoch and Representative Tom Tugendhat were around the table. They have kicked off a crucial week in the race for Downing Street: After several votes by Tory MPs, we will know on Wednesday evening the names of the final candidates, who will be decided over the summer by Tory members. The name of the future prime minister will be known on September 5. The confrontation turned out to be more lively than the previous television debate on Friday, in which the five contenders for power refused to engage in personal attacks and engagements.

Liz Truss Attack

This time, the head of diplomacy, Liz Truss, set the tone by attacking her former government colleague Rishi Sunak straight from her first speeches, accusing her of leading the country into “Recession” By raising taxes when he was in charge of finances. Former Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt also attacked the former chancellor on the subject, suggesting borrowing to counter the cost of living crisis choking British households, with inflation hitting a record 9.1% in May.

‘It’s socialism’Rishi Sunak replied. ” same [l’ancien chef de l’opposition] Jeremy Corbyn wouldn’t have gone that far! » M^I Truss and Mr. Sunak have been at odds since the beginning of the campaign. The 46-year-old candidate is a darling of Johnson’s camp, convinced that Mr Sunak had been waiting for his time for months before he resigned on July 4, precipitating the prime minister’s downfall. What Rishi Sunak’s supporters deny. During the attack, Liz Truss tried to catch up as the bookmakers dropped her to third, neck and neck behind Benny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak.

On Saturday, a Conservative Home poll of its conservative readers put former Secretary of State Kimi Badenouche in the lead, who is appealing to some conservatives on her side. “anti-wake” And his notes are less jargon than most of his competitors.

Global warming is almost absent from the discussion

After months of scandals and lies under Boris Johnson, integrity issues are once again widely discussed. No candidate has stated that he is ready to appoint the soon-to-be prime minister in his government. In the previous debate on Friday, only Tom Tugendhat answered firmly ” no “ When asked if the resigned prime minister is honest. Kemi Badenoch was satisfied with the file ” sometimes “ And three vague answers scattered.

At the end of the face-to-face meeting, the candidates had to take their positions on environmental issues. But the topic, which had relegated to the background of discussions since the beginning of the campaign, was again obliterated in a few minutes.

If all the candidates except Kimi Badenouche say they will maintain the national goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, they are not making it a priority. With temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius expected in England earlier this week, COP26 chief and minister Alok Sharma on Sunday called on candidates to “take seriously” Climate issues, not rule out leaving office if this is not the case.

In order to choose the new prime minister, Tory MPs will vote again on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, eliminating candidates one by one, while a third debate will take place on Sky News on Wednesday. Once the choice of the final showdown is made, the choice will fall to Conservative Party members, who will vote by mail over the summer. The result of the vote is expected to be on the fifth of September.