ishi sunak promised not to let the Tory leadership contest become a “coronation” for Liz Truss while the pair were keen on taxes, the economy and the war in Ukraine at the first looting.
The former chancellor said he would “fight for every vote” despite polls by Tory members that gave Ms Truss a significant lead.
Speaking at the hustings event hosted by LBC in Leeds on Thursday, Mr Sunak said: “I know the polls say I am behind in this race. I know there are people who say there should be a coronation, not a contest.
“But I’ve heard that before seven years ago, when I arrived in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and finally the Members there gave me the greatest honor of my life when they chose me as their candidate to become their Member of Parliament.
‘I ask for all your support. And I promise you I will fight for every vote.”
He promised to “grab inflation”, tackle the backlog of the NHS and “reunite” the country – but said he would not embark on a “spending wave by borrowing tens and tens of billions of pounds of unfunded pledges and putting them on the country’s credit card”.
“That’s not right. That’s not responsible, and certainly not conservative. But once we get a grip on inflation and make sure mortgage rates don’t go up and cripple people, of course I’m going to cut taxes,” he added.
Commenting on an attack on the price of his suit and shoes by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries on Wednesday, Mr Sunak said: “It’s not about what shoes or what suit I wear, it’s about what I’m going to do for the country” . His response received a loud round of applause from the audience.
Meanwhile Mrs Truss vowed to “build Northern Powerhouse Rail” and criticized the standard of transport in Leeds and the North of England as she made her pitch to become Prime Minister.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also referred to her move to Norfolk, the location of her constituency, and the fact that she has become a supporter of Norwich City FC.
She said: “I really want us to channel the spirit of Don Revie” – a former manager of Leeds United and England – because “we have to win”.
“And, my friends, we can beat Keir Starmer, who is a condescending, plastic patriot,” she added.
Referring to her upbringing in the city, she said it was “fantastic” to be in her “old stew”, adding that she hoped none of her former teachers were in the audience.
Ms Truss said she got “grit, determination and candor” from Yorkshire, which is what is needed in Downing Street now that “we are facing a massive global economic crisis”.
She further referred to the area and said she would keep corporate taxes low to encourage investment in towns across Yorkshire and the country as a whole.
During questions from LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Mr Sunak also flatly denied giving Boris Johnson a job in the Cabinet.
When asked what he would say to reports that some 14,000 members want Mr Johnson’s name on the ballot, he replied: “I would tell them I think nearly 60 people have resigned from parliament and that it is the Prime Minister’s job to have the confidence of the House of Representatives faction, and in the end there was none.”
Later, Mr Sunak was accused by a Tory member of stabbing the Prime Minister in the back.
He replied: “I am proud of this government and we have achieved many great things. But for me personally it got to a point where I couldn’t stay. I had a significant difference of opinion with him about how to deal with the economic challenges ahead.”
Mr Sunak also supported the return of secondary schools, saying that he believed in “education excellence” and that he would “reform the system to get a better outcome”.
Ms Truss said she was “always a fan of Boris Johnson” to loud applause from the audience.
“I think he did a fantastic job as Prime Minister. He delivered Brexit and he delivered the Covid vaccine. I was proud to be a loyal member of his cabinet.”
However, she admitted she made a “mistake” by voting with the government on the Owen Paterson affair, adding: “No, I wouldn’t do it again if I had time again.”