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Agence France-Presse

With double-digit inflation and an economy teetering on the brink of recession, the cost-of-living crisis has dominated the race for Downing Street.
But the two candidates vying to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister have differing approaches to the problem.
UK inflation is currently at 10.1 per cent – the highest level in 40 years – with predictions that it could climb to 13 per cent in October.
Analysts at Citibank believe it could even surge beyond 18 per cent next year on the back of soaring energy costs.
Sunak vs Truss: is race a factor in the UK leadership race?
A new energy price cap is due to be announced on Friday, as some experts predict certain households could soon be paying an eye-watering £6,000 (US$7,100) a year for gas and electricity.
A University of York study suggested that more than half of UK households or about 15 million people will be unable to keep their homes heated properly by January next year.
The leadership front runner Liz Truss has promised tax cuts and reversing increases in National Insurance contributions that fund the public health service and welfare payments.
She is also proposing to axe taxes on fuel which pay for the transition to cleaner energy and rejected “sticking plaster” solutions to the cost-of-living crisis such as direct government aid.
Supporters of the current foreign secretary say she is planning an emergency budget within weeks if she wins the internal party vote.
Truss vs Sunak: Divisive Thatcher looms over UK leadership race
Her opponent, Rishi Sunak, believes cutting taxes will not have any effect on low-income households as they do not earn enough to pay them anyway.
The former finance minister – privately wealthy through his career in business and by marriage – favours direct help for low-income families more likely to be affected by the rise in prices.
He has called promises of tax cuts during an economic slump and skyrocketing inflation a “fairy tale”
Instead, he has proposed a cut in sales tax (VAT) on energy bills and to lower taxes on commercial properties (business rates).
Both candidates have officially backed the UK’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

But Truss, who favours all-out investment in energy including controversial fracking technology where it is backed by locals, called for a better way to achieve it without hurting people and business.
She wants more energy to come from the North Sea and backs current UK government policy on investment in nuclear power and renewables.
Truss backed remaining in the European Union before the 2016 referendum on membership of the bloc, switching sides after the public voted to leave.
Now unashamedly pro-Brexit, she has spearheaded proposed legislation to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol the UK signed with the EU governing post-Brexit trade-in the province.
She has promised to take all EU law off the UK statute book to help “turbocharge” growth.
Like Sunak, she has made no proposals to address chronic post-Brexit labour shortages in the UK, particularly of seasonal workers.
‘Oh my god’: UK PM debate halted after host faints on air
Sunak has been an ardent Brexiteer for years and was one of the main backers of the creation of free ports to boost growth.
Truss has called for an overhaul of regulators in the City of London financial district if she becomes prime minister.
Notably she wants to merge the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority which oversees banks and is part of the Bank of England, and the Payment Systems Regulator.
Truss has been critical of the Bank of England’s response to rising inflation and has proposed examining the statute that gave it operational independence over monetary policy in 1997.
Governor Andrew Bailey noted in response that the UK’s financial credibility was dependent on the bank’s independence from government.


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Britain

UK PM race: cost of living crisis dominates leadership campaign between Truss and Sunak

The two candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Photo: AP/File

With double-digit inflation and an economy teetering on the brink of recession, the cost-of-living crisis has dominated the race for Downing Street. Photo: Bloomberg

A customer pays for his fruit and vegetables at a trader’s market stall in London. The cost of living crisis has been a focal point of the UK leadership campaign, with candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak having differing views of how to fix the problem. Photo: AFP/File

UK leadership front runner Liz Truss says country can produce ‘next Google or Facebook’ downplays recession talk

Tory leadership favourite Liz Truss downplayed on Sunday the prospect of a UK recession Photo: Bloomberg/File

Liz Truss, UK foreign secretary, speaks during a Conservative Party leadership hustings in Manchester, UK, on Friday. Photo: Bloomberg

Sunak vs Truss: is race a factor in the UK leadership race?

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are vying to be voted as Conservative Party leader, and be installed as the UK’s next prime minister. Photo: AP

 UK Conservative Party leadership contender Rishi Sunak. Photo: dpa

UK Conservative Party leadership candidate Liz Truss. Photo: Reuters

Contest to replace UK’s Boris Johnson begins, ‘someone has to grip this moment’, says top candidate

William Kedjanyi, a political betting analyst for a bookmakers, holds a board showing odds on which politicians could become the next leader of the ruling British Conservative Party and British Prime Minister. Photo: AP 

Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak says he’s running for PM. Photo: Reuters

Rishi Sunak says will run UK economy like Thatcher if prime minister

Rishi Sunak at the launch of his campaign to be Conservative Party leader and prime minister. Photo: Reuters

Now there are eight: UK leader field slims as nominations close. Photos: AFP

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World

Europe


UK inflation is currently at 10.1 per cent – the highest level in 40 years – with predictions that it could climb to 13 per cent in October
A University of York study said more than half of UK households or some 15 million people will be unable to keep their homes heated properly by January



Front runner Liz Truss promised tax cuts and reversing increases in contributions that fund the public health service and welfare payments. Her opponent, Rishi Sunak, believes cutting taxes will not have any effect on low-income households.
