The two remaining candidates to succeed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed optimism after the last round of elections in the Conservative group.
In an interview with Sky News, former finance minister Rishi Sunak pointed out that as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he likely saved millions of jobs during the pandemic with a program based on German temp work. Truss said he wanted to use tax cuts to boost economic growth and win voters’ favor.
In a second round, they now have to face members of the Conservative party. Who will be the new Conservative party leader and therefore prime minister is due to leave on September 5. The expectation is that the two face a tough electoral campaign.
Both candidates expressed confidence in defeating Labor leader Keir Starmer and his Social Democrats in the upcoming general election. Typically, there will be another election in 2024. But it wouldn’t be the first time early elections have taken place in Britain. Currently, Labor is far ahead of the Conservatives in the polls.
BBC Speech Duel
Now, the roughly 160,000 members of the Conservative Party will first decide who should lead the country. The Conservatives’ summer campaign begins next Monday, when the finalists face off in a duel of speeches broadcast on BBC television.
The controversial Northern Ireland Protocol bill, which the British House of Commons voted by a majority at third reading on Wednesday night – and which, despite some strong internal criticism, also harbors potential for conflict. With the law planned, Brexit deals in the British province should be able to be unilaterally annulled by London. The EU Commission had already expressed extreme concern about the project and the threatened consequences.
However, before the law can go into effect, it still needs to pass through the second chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords. This should happen after the summer break. The project is likely to encounter more resistance in the upper chamber. If the government prevails with the plans, there should be serious twists and turns with Brussels. At worst, a trade war threatens. The two candidates to succeed Johnson have so far shown no signs of wanting to take a less rigid stance on Brexit than the outgoing prime minister.