he last five Conservative leadership candidates took part in the first televised debate on Friday where they clashed over trans rights, tax cuts and Boris Johnson.
In the first flash of the evening, Liz Truss joined Kemi Badenoch in accusing Penny Mordaunt of pursuing a policy of gender self-identification while responsible for equality – something she vehemently denied.
Ms Mordaunt, a former Minister for Women and Equal Opportunities, said she had “never been in favor of self-identification” during a consultation on the Gender Recognition Act.
Tom Tugendhat also received the first round of applause from Channel 4’s studio audience when he was the only candidate to answer “no” to the question of whether Boris Johnson was an honest man.
former chancellor, Rishi Sunak directed his own attacks on Ms. Mordaunt and the Secretary of State, claiming the couple had “fairytale” plans for the economy.
A second debate will be hosted by ITV on Sunday at 7pm.
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Tom Tugendhat winner of first Tory leadership debate, says quick viewer poll
A quick poll of viewers crowned Tom Tugendhat the winner of the first Tory leadership debate after saying Boris Johnson is not an honest man.
Tugendhat – who was in fifth place in the final vote – came out on top on Friday night, with 36 percent saying he was the strongest performer.
The poll of 1,159 British adults by pollsters, Opinium, put Rishi Sunak in second place with 24 percent, Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch in third place with 12 percent and Liz Truss fifth with seven percent.
Tugendhat received the studio audience’s first round of applause when he was the only candidate to answer ‘no’ to the question of whether the prime minister was an honest man.
His rivals were unable to make a clear judgment of Johnson’s integrity.
Tugendhat also clashed with Sunak over the latter’s decision to increase national insurance premiums to fund the NHS when he was chancellor.