from TrussTax cut plans were branded ‘socialism’ by her rival Rishi Sunak as the Tory hopeful leaders clashed over tax cuts in a tv debate on Sunday evening.
The five candidates in the contest to replace Boris Johnson questioned each other during the confrontation ahead of Monday’s third ballot.
The former chancellor asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs what she was “more sorry about” – on the Remain side of the Brexit debate whether ever to be a member of the Liberal Democrats.
Ms Truss, who has promised tax cuts worth £30bn if she becomes prime minister, accused Mr Sunak of stifling economic growth by raising the tax burden on workers to the highest level in 70 years.
After being criticized for her poor performance during Friday’s first TV debate, Ms Truss went on the offensive at the second meeting and attacked Mr Sunak’s record in the Treasury.
She claimed to have argued against the increase in national insurance schemes during cabinet meetings.
“Rishi, you’ve raised taxes to the highest level in 70 years, that’s not going to boost economic growth,” she said.
“You increased national insurance, even though people like me in cabinet at the time were against it because we could have afforded to fund the NHS through general taxes.
“The fact is that raising taxes right now will slow economic growth.”
But Mr Sunak insisted the NHS needed the extra income after the pandemic.
He added: “I’d love to stand here and say, ‘Look, I’ll cut this tax, that tax, and another tax and it’ll be all right.’ But you know what? It will not.”
“There is a cost to these things and the cost of higher inflation, higher mortgage rates, eroded savings. And you know what? This something-for-nothing economy is not conservative. It’s socialism.”
Ms Truss and Mr Sunak were joined by Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat in the ITV debate between the candidates vying for the next Conservative Party leader.
They were questioned about the cost of living, public sector wage increases, character, the war in Ukraine and their commitment to net zero.
The format allowed each candidate to ask their rivals one question, with frontrunner Mr. Sunak bearing the brunt of the investigation.
Mr Sunak received the most support in the second round of voting from Tory MPs last week, with 101 backing him.
Secretary of Commerce and former Secretary of Defense Penny Mordaunt was not far behind raising 16 additional backers on Thursday, taking her to 83 votes.
Ms Truss received 64 supporters, while the self-described “wildcard” Ms Badenoch scored 49 votes last week.
Mr Tugenhart was in fifth place but was praised for his performance in Friday’s first TV debate, which came out on top according to opinion polls.
Tory MPs will knock out another leadership candidate on Monday, ahead of a third TV debate between the final four on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the candidates are narrowed down to a final two by MPs. Members of the Tory party then vote for their next leader, who will be proclaimed on September 5.