International

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss Joins Race To Replace Boris Johnson

Published

2 years ago

Jul 11, 2022.

Benard Joseph

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss Joins Race To Replace Boris Johnson.
Ms Truss, declaring her plans in the Daily Telegraph, pledged to start cutting taxes “from day one”.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has joined the race to replace Boris Johnson.

Ms Truss, declaring her plans in the Daily Telegraph, pledged to start cutting taxes “from day one”.

Many of the 11 leadership hopefuls looking to become the Tory party leader have set out competing tax plans as a core element of their proposals.

The 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs that organises contests will meet on Monday to decide the timetable and rules of the leadership race.

The two-stage process will see Conservative MPs whittle down the candidates to two, through voting rounds, before Tory party members decide the winner.

Ms Truss, 46, indicated that she would echo her rivals in planning to slash corporation tax, reverse the National Insurance hike and reform business rates.

She told the paper it “isn’t right to be putting up taxes now” and if elected she would take “immediate action” to assist with living costs.

“Colleagues know I mean what I say and only make promises I can keep. I can be trusted to deliver”, she said.

The foreign secretary said she would “fight the election as a Conservative and govern as a Conservative”.

The newly-appointed Foreign Office Minister Rehman Chishti also declared his candidacy on Sunday, with the 43-year-old speaking about the importance of lower taxes, a small state and a big society.

The weekend saw a flurry of announcements – with most, but not all, candidates promising lower rates for individuals, businesses, or both.

So far the list of contenders for the leadership includes:

Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch
Attorney General Suella Braverman
Newly-appointed Foreign Office minister Rehman Chishti
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt
Former health secretary Sajid Javid
Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
Backbencher Tom Tugendhat
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi

The abundance of tax-cutting plans announced so far, contrasts with Mr Sunak, who has played down the prospect of tax cuts before public finances improve.

The former chancellor released a video to launch his campaign, but is yet to set out his economic pitch, with more details promised in the coming days and weeks.

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He warned against “comforting fairy tales” that would “leave our children worse off tomorrow”, in the video published on social media.

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