Speaking to the Tory leadership in Eastbourne, Truss suggested her plans for immediate tax cuts, if she becomes prime minister, could stave off recession. He said: “I know there are tough predictions out there, but predictions are not destiny. And what we should not do is talk about a recession. We have to keep taxes low.” He added: “We can create the British version of Silicon Valley. We can create real opportunities.” During an appearance that was twice interrupted by climate activists, Truss also voiced his support for fracking, as well as caution for the government’s net zero target and crackdown on the Extinction Rebellion protests. To cheers from the audience he said: “I want us to run in parts of the country where there is local support so that we have the energy security we need.” She was urged by a member of the audience to “examine the scientific team—think about net zero.” Truss responded: “We have to go to net zero, but I want to do it in a way that doesn’t have households and businesses fighting. That’s why I would have an immediate moratorium on the green energy levy while we look at better ways to achieve net zero using private sector innovation and technology to deliver.” Following the climate activists’ disapproval, Truss said: “I’m going to make sure that militant activists like the Extinction Rebellion are not able to upset ordinary, hard-working people.” Tory leadership candidate Rishi Sunak has warned the Conservatives can “say goodbye to victory at the next election” if inflation is not brought under control. Photo: Andy Rain/EPA Rishi Sunak was more enthusiastic about net zero, but also cautious. He said again that the only political issue his two young daughters asked him about was the environment. The former chancellor said: “I don’t want to let them down, first and foremost. You have heard me speak passionately about public finances, borrowing and the debt we leave for our children and grandchildren. I’m just as passionate about the environment we live in because we’re Conservative.” He added: “I believe in our net zero target. I want us to get there in a measured way because there is no point in racing there harder and faster than any other country because that will impoverish us both.” On the economy, the former chancellor said that unless inflation is under control, “we can say goodbye to winning the next election”. Asked by host and former Downing Street adviser Jimmy McLoughlin what his aim would be to win a fifth term, Sunak said his first priority would be tackling inflation. He said: “As the Bank of England has said, they are worried about inflation building in, then there is no hope of us winning this next election. None at all. He added: “If we don’t figure this thing out and catch it quickly, then we can say goodbye to winning the next election. So the first thing we have to put ourselves in a position to win is to get over inflation and get over it quickly and not make things worse.” Truss, the trailblazer, was asked to identify Sunak’s main strengths. She replied: “He is a very intelligent man. He is a very capable minister. And I would be very happy that, if I am successful, he would join me on our team.” Asked Truss the same question, Sunak said, “Liz is great at explaining conservative values.” Truss described her involvement in the Lib Dems as a “teenage misadventure”, adding: “Some people know, sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was in the Liberal Democrats.” And he praised the outgoing prime minister, saying: “Boris Johnson is hugely respected in Ukraine. He has a street and a croissant named after him, and I don’t think many international leaders have been able to do that.”
