Speaking at the latest Tory leadership showdown in Exeter, the foreign secretary called Scotland’s first minister an “attention seeker” and replied “no, no, no” when asked about the prospect of a new independence referendum if she became prime minister. “I really think we’re a family and we’re better together,” she said. “I think the best thing to do with Nicola Sturgeon is to ignore her. She’s an attention-seeking bigot, that’s what she is.” Politics Hub: Truss and Sunak face off once again Meanwhile, fellow leadership contender Rishi Sunak said he was “definitely the casual candidate” and spoke out against uncosted tax cuts because of the economic problems they could bring – to which he received loud cheers from party members in the audience . Both candidates also said they would take a closer look at the Internet safety bill. Ms Truss said she would “make sure it protects free speech”, while former chancellor Mr Sunak said he would look again at the “legal but harmful” provisions of the bill. In a lighter moment during the nearly two-hour session, rapid-fire questions saw both candidates reveal the jobs they would like to do if they weren’t MPs. Ms Truss said she would like to become a food critic or writer as she loves food. Mr Sunak has revealed that he wanted to be in Star Wars when he was younger, but now he would be more than happy to manage his favorite football club Southampton. The former chancellor was keen to make an impression, as she has been on her toes since the start of the race following her support for Ms Truss. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:49 Penny Mordaunt backs Liz Truss for PM Entering politics, Ms Truss said she saw rural communities as part of the upgrade and pledged to fix rural broadband and infrastructure issues. She was also cheered for promising to get rid of solar farms and once again promising to cut taxes. “I will channel the spirit of the lionesses who fought bravely against the odds, pulled through and achieved a massive victory,” she said, referring to England Women’s victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final yesterday. “We have to have that confidence in ourselves.” Despite the sometimes bitter row so far, Ms Truss also said she would have the “fantastic” Mr Sunak as “part of my team” if she becomes prime minister. Mr Sunak himself was applauded by Tory MPs after he said Ms Truss’s company tax policies were “exactly the failed Treasury orthodoxy of the last 10 years”. “I want to reform the corporate tax system. Liz Truss’ business tax policies are exactly the failed Treasury orthodoxy of the last 10 years, which has not worked. I want to change it and grow the economy,” he said. Mr Sunak also stressed the need for “more flat-pack housing” – and to be bold in NHS reform. Asked about the increasing use of technology in public services, he said: “At the moment we have this huge problem with delays. “As they have already done in some trusts, we can use software automation and artificial intelligence to bulk up all their screening and processing and clean up the lists, and that will clean up the processing times.” Challenged by a member of the audience about his loyalty to the current prime minister, Mr Sunak replied: “I respectfully disagree because I’ve been loyal to Boris Johnson for the two and a half years I’ve had this job.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:46 Rishi Sunak agrees to cut income tax by 20%. Later on Monday afternoon, Ms Truss unveiled her plans to cut Whitehall waste, red tape and inefficiency, which her team claims would save the taxpayer up to £11 billion a year. The Secretary of State said she would launch a “war on waste”, cutting diversity and jobs, tackling “the unfairness of taxpayers being forced to fund union facilities time and ensuring public servants focus on delivering frontline services . “As prime minister I will run a more agile, more efficient, more focused Whitehall that prioritizes the things that really matter to people and is laser-focused on frontline services,” he said. “There is too much bureaucracy and stale groupthink in Whitehall. If I make it to Downing Street, I will put an end to this and run a government that is relentlessly focused on delivering for the British public and delivering value for hard-working taxpayers. “ Her proposals have met with a furious response from a major civil servants union, which has vowed to oppose her plans “at every turn”. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, said: “If Liz Truss is elected and tries to go ahead with these proposals, she will face opposition at every turn. “Civil servants are not a political tool to be used and abused for one person’s ambitions; they are the hard-working people who keep the country running every day and deserve respect.” Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will be back in front of the cameras this week on Sky News. On Thursday, at 8 p.m. from Sky Studios in west London, The Battle for Number 10 will see them take part in back-to-back questions from a live studio audience made up of Conservative members who remain largely undecided about who to vote for. An in-depth interview with Kay Burley will follow. The program will be broadcast live for 90 minutes and free-to-air on Sky News channel 501, Freeview 233, Sky Showcase channel 106 and Sky News digital channels.
