PICK A PM
Sun readers have their say after Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak clash in Tory leadership debate
SUN readers crowned Liz Truss the winner of last night's fiery Tory leadership debate on TalkTV.
The wannabe PMs clashed live on issues ranging from the cost of living squeeze to fixing horrible NHS backlogs.
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The Foreign Secretary and ex-Chancellor desperately want Tory members to vote for them to replace Boris Johnson.
They have until September 4 to convince 160,000 card carrying Conservatives that they are best placed to lead their party.
Tax and spending have emerged as the two central themes of the Tory race to be PM, with Mr Sunak and Ms Truss pitching very different visions for the country's finances.
Mr Sunak has positioned himself as the economically cautious choice. He's vowed not to make any major tax cut pledges until inflation is dealt with.
Ms Truss on the other hand has promised a smorgasbord of fiscal giveaways.
She's pledged to reverse the National Insurance hike from day one in office and even introduce a fully costed budget.
Other areas including defence spending, Brexit and foreign policy have also become key wedge issues in the contest.
Alongside Tory members, Ms Truss and Mr Sunak must appeal to the wider public, whose votes they will need at the next general election.
Both have argued they are the best and only candidate who can beat Labour.
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Mr Sunak said: "I think if you look at all the polling evidence that we have and you see what that says, it's pretty clear that I am the person that is best placed to beat Keir Starmer in the next election."
Ms Truss said: “I can win against Keir Starmer in 2024. That’s my message to party members right across the country."
Last night the Foreign Secretary and ex-Chancellor had a prime time opportunity to convince Sun readers why they should be the next PM.
The debate was brought to a halt at 6.31pm after host Kate McCann fainted.
But for half an hour before hand Ms Truss and Mr Sunak clashed on issues including soaring inflation and the NHS.
In a Sun poll readers said Ms Truss was the strongest performer of the night by 54 to 46 per cent, falling in for Mr Sunak.
The race to be PM doesn't slow down after the debate.
On Thursday Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will face down Tory members at the first Conservative Party organised hustings in Leeds.
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Then on Friday night the ex-Chancellor will be grilled live on Channel 4 by Andrew Neil.
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Ms Truss has not agreed to come under the veteran broadcaster's microscope, but is facing pressure from the Sunak campaign to do so.
Next Thursday the third live TV clash between Ms Truss and Mr Sunak will kick off on Sky News.