UK Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak took their campaigns to northern England on Thursday to lay out their cases to become the next prime minister to party members.
Seeking to woo northern votes in the race for No 10, the candidates were quizzed separately on a vast array of policy areas — as well as their predictions for the Women’s Euro 2022 final.
The final two contenders will hold another 11 sessions for the party faithful across the country before voting for the next Tory leader and prime minister closes on September 2.
The event, hosted by LBC’s Nick Ferrari, took place in Leeds, where Ms Truss started by capitalising on her Yorkshire roots.
Referencing her upbringing in the city, she said it was “fantastic” to be in her “old stomping ground” and added that she hoped none of her former teachers were in the audience.
Ms Truss said she learnt “grit, determination and straight-talking” from Yorkshire and that this is what is needed in Downing Street as “we face a huge, global economic crisis”.
The foreign secretary also made reference to her relocation to Norfolk, the site of her constituency, and the fact she has become a supporter of Norwich City FC.
She said: “I do want us to channel the spirit of [former Leeds United and England manager] Don Revie [because] we need to win.
“And, my friends, we can win against Keir Starmer, who is a patronising plastic patriot.”
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Candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings at Wembley Arena, London. This was the final hustings attended by Tory Party members who will vote for the new leader and next prime minister. EPA -
Liz Truss addresses Conservative Party members at Wembley Arena. AP -
Mr Sunak puts forward his case to be leader while speaking at Wembley Arena. Bloomberg -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy in Southampton, while on the campaign trail. Reuters -
Ms Truss speaks to staff at Condimentum Ltd at the Food Enterprise Park in Norwich. Getty Images -
A Rishi Sunak supporter at a hustings event in Norfolk. PA -
Mr Sunak greets people at a leadership hustings in Manchester. Bloomberg -
Ms Truss poses for a selfie with a supporter as she arrives for the event in Manchester. Getty -
Rishi Sunak looks through the sights of an anti-tank missile launcher, supplied to Ukraine, during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP -
Liz Truss at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event in Belfast. Getty -
Liz Truss meets supporters before a hustings in Perth, Scotland. Getty -
Rishi Sunak speaks during a campaign visit to Cluny Castle in Inverurie, Scotland. Getty -
Police hold back protesters outside Perth Concert Hall, Scotland, where Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were speaking. PA -
A mural showing the two leadership contestants appears on a wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP -
Rishi Sunak during a visit to St John's Wood Synagogue, north London. PA -
Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings in Cheltenham. EPA -
Rishi Sunak during a hustings event in Cheltenham. Reuters -
Liz Truss speaks to scientists during a campaign visit to a life sciences laboratory at Alderley Park in Manchester. PA -
Rishi Sunak during a campaign hustings in Darlington, England. Bloomberg -
Liz Truss meets party members before she speaks at the Darlington campaign hustings. Getty -
Rishi Sunak arrives for the Darlington hustings. Getty -
Liz Truss plays pool during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters -
Rishi Sunak looks at a book with Teddy Openshaw, 4, as his father, Henry, looks on after a Conservative leadership campaign event in Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England. Getty -
Liz Truss plays table tennis with former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters -
Liz Truss with supporters at a campaign event in Solihull, England. Reuters -
Rishi Sunak attends a campaign event held by his party in Bexhill, England. Reuters -
A protester is removed as Ms Truss speaks during the Conservative Party leadership hustings in Eastbourne. Bloomberg -
Mr Sunak speaks at an event in Edinburgh. PA -
Ms Truss leaves the hall in Exeter, south-west England, after her speech to a Conservative Party membership hustings. Getty -
Mr Sunak speaks at the University of Exeter in south-west England. AP -
A supporter of Ms Truss at a Conservative Party hustings in Exeter, south-west England. Getty -
Ms Truss at a hustings event at the Pavilion conference centre at Elland Road in Leeds. PA -
Mr Sunak in Salisbury watching a screening of the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final between England and Germany at Wembley stadium. England won 2-1 in extra time. PA -
Ms Truss before the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final at Wembley stadium in London. AFP -
Mr Sunak meets Tory members at Fontwell Park Racecourse. Reuters -
Ms Truss at an event in Dereham, Norfolk. AFP -
Mr Sunak in Ropley, near Winchester, Hampshire. PA -
Ms Truss speaks as Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat looks on at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event at Biggin Hill Airport. Getty -
Ms Truss on the campaign trail in Woodford Green, on the outskirts of London. Reuters -
Mr Sunak at a Conservative Party hustings event in Leeds. AFP -
Ms Truss speaks at the hustings event in Leeds. AFP -
Sunak and Truss-themed souvenirs at a stand during the Leeds hustings event. Reuters -
Ms Truss, and her mother, Patricia, arrive for the hustings event. Getty -
Ms Truss poses with supporters in Morley, England. Getty -
Mr Sunak delivers a speech during a campaign event in Newmarket. AFP -
Ms Truss and Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, during a visit to a broadband interchange company in Leeds. PA -
Mr Sunak answers questions as he takes part in the hustings in Leeds. AFP -
Ms Truss speaks at an event at a private house with members of the Conservative Party in Woodford Green. PA -
Ms Truss and Mr Sunak pose for a picture before a BBC leadership debate at Victoria Hall in Hanley. Getty -
Ms Truss addresses Mr Sunak during the televised debate. Getty -
Mr Sunak, with daughters Krishna and Anushka, and wife Akshata Murthy, during a visit to Vaculug tyre specialists at Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham. PA -
Ms Truss speaks to people while campaigning in Marden. Getty -
Ms Truss celebrates after being named, along with Mr Sunak, one of the final two candidates in the race to become the UK's next prime minister. PA -
Mr Sunak outside his campaign office in central London. EPA -
Ms Truss outside Downing Street in London. Reuters -
Rishi Sunak meets Conservative Party members and activists, in Teesport, Redcar. Reuters -
Conservative leadership candidates Mr Sunak, Ms Truss, Kemi Badenoch, presenter Julie Etchingham, Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt during 'Britain's Next Prime Minister: The ITV Debate' in London. EPA -
Ms Badenoch arrives at Here East studios in Stratford, east London, before a live television debate. PA -
Mr Sunak arrives at a London event to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister. Reuters -
Mr Tugendhat appears on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA -
Ms Badenoch, Ms Mordaunt, Mr Sunak, Ms Truss and Mr Tugendhat before the live television debate. PA -
Ms Mordaunt arrives for the launch of her Conservative leadership campaign at the Cinnamon Club in Westminster. PA -
Ms Truss speaks at the launch event for her campaign to become the next leader of the Tory Party and Britain's prime minister, in London. EPA -
Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi, one of the candidates who has been knocked out of the race, giving a speech at the Churchill War Rooms. PA -
Former leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA -
Sajid Javid attending the launch of his campaign to be Conservative Party leader and prime minister, at the Cinnamon Club in London. He has since been knocked out of the contest. PA -
Rehman Chishti is interviewed after announcing his bid to become the next prime minister. Mr Chishti is no longer in the race. Getty -
Mr Tugendhat speaking at the launch of his campaign. PA -
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith arrive for the Truss campaign launch event. Getty -
Former leadership candidate Attorney General Suella Braverman at the Churchill War Rooms in central London. PA -
Supporters of Mr Sunak wait for his arrival ahead of the campaign launch. Bloomberg -
Mr Tugendhat makes a speech at the launch of his campaign. PA -
Mr Javid mops his brow while launching his campaign. Getty -
Ms Truss leaves for work after her announcement that she would be running for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Getty
Former chancellor Mr Sunak said he was “having the time of my life” campaigning for the top job.
He spoke on his approach to punishing Russia for its war Ukraine.
“If we can have a buyers’ cartel in the world where everyone would agree to pay a fixed amount for Russian energy and enforce that through secondary sanctions, which we were working on how to do, that would be a way to make sure we get the energy we need at prices that are far better for us and deprive Russia of revenue that is funding its war effort,” he said.
Ms Truss told the hustings she would return the whips’ office to 12 Downing Street.
She also insisted “single-sex spaces should be protected”, particularly for young people.
Addressing Ms Truss, an audience member called for a policy that guarantees girls can go to the toilet in a safe environment in any school in the country.
“I completely agree with you. I have sought to clarify that, as women’s minister, I’ve been very clear that single-sex spaces should be protected, particularly for young people, as well as … vulnerable women in domestic violence shelters, for example,” the foreign secretary responded.
“And I can assure you, as prime minister, I would direct that to happen, because our girls need … it’s a difficult time being a teenager, being a young girl, and you should be able to have the privacy you need in your own loo. So, I 100 per cent agree with you and I would make that happen.”
Meanwhile, parts of the audience at the Tory hustings clapped when the host mentioned support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be included on the ballot.
“Tonight’s hustings showed why Liz is the right person to lead our party and country,” said a representative of Ms Truss’s campaign.
“She has a bold and ambitious plan for Britain. She will unleash the full potential of our great country, and stand up for people who work hard and do the right thing.
“Liz can be trusted to deliver on Brexit, on the economy and defend freedom at home and abroad.”
Members impressed as they leave first Tory leadership hustings
Conservative Party members leaving the first Tory leadership hustings in Leeds said they were relieved both candidates had come across as potential prime ministers.
But some of the biggest rounds of applause inside the Centenary Pavilion at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground were reserved for questions suggesting Mr Johnson should be on the ballot.
“I was very impressed by both candidates but particularly by Liz Truss,” said Neil Buckley from Leeds.
“She gives me, as a Conservative, more of a vision about where are actually going — smaller state and lower taxation.
“There’s a few weeks to go but on tonight’s showing I will be voting for Liz Truss.
“For me, I just found Rish Sunak was just slightly steady-as-she-goes, but I think we’re in a pretty desperate situation at the moment and I think we need something a little more.”
“I was impressed with the hustings. I was impressed with the tone,” said Maria Broadhead from Pickering in North Yorkshire.
“I think Liz Truss performed the best I have seen her perform. I think she answered all the questions that needed answering.
“She gave me confidence that she would be a capable prime minister, but I think we are in safe hand and either would make a good premier.
“I think Rishi’s got a lot of integrity and I think Liz has a lot of commonsense ideas.”
Zahir Khan travelled from London to make sure he was at the first of the planned hustings.
“I think both candidates are excellent and we are in safe hands,” said Dr Khan.
“It’s about whoever can hold the country together. There are some big challenges.”
He added that, as a party, Conservatives need “to become ‘we’ rather than ‘I’".
“I think there was a lot of people who liked Boris and are not happy we’re in this situation, but we are where we are,” said Geoff Parsons from Bradford.
“We’ve got to pick one of these and I think that probably Liz Truss will get it.”
