Sunak, Truss neck and neck after first TV debate

London: There was no clear winner between former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Tuesday after the UK's prime ministerial candidates went head-to-head in their first television debate as finalists and clashed fiercely on their economic policies and tax plans.

A snap Opinium poll of who performed best in the BBC debate on Monday night found Sunak just slightly ahead at 39 per cent, compared to Truss at 38 per cent.

However, 47 per cent of Conservative Party voters quizzed thought it was the Foreign Secretary who was the better performer, with 38 per cent preferring Sunak. Overall, the survey of 1,032 British adults held that voters could not decide between Sunak and Truss, with just one point dividing the pair. In a reflection of what a general election might throw up, data showed that 41 per cent of Opposition Labour Party voters in the survey thought 42-year-old Sunak did better while 30 per cent preferred Truss.

Of those surveyed, 43 per cent also said the Conservatives should elect Sunak while 41 per cent said they should elect 47-year-old Truss, with 12 per cent either choosing "do not know" or abstaining.

"You've promised over 40 billion pounds of unfunded tax cuts - 40 billion pounds more borrowing," said Sunak, repeatedly confronting his opponent on her pledge to cut taxes from day one as a new Prime Minister. "That is the country's credit card, and it's our children and grandchildren, everyone here's kids will pick up the tab for that. There's nothing Conservative about it," he said.

The former Chancellor insists the UK's tax burden is the result of the unprecedented levels of government spending needed to keep the economy afloat during the COVID pandemic and that getting a grip on inflation is a priority before any tax cuts.

He warned that Truss' tax cut plan would "tip millions of people into misery" and cost the Tories the next general election, expected around 2024.

The Foreign Secretary, meanwhile, insisted that no other country was putting up taxes and accused Sunak of having no plan for growth. "This Chancellor has raised taxes to the highest rate in 70 years, and we're now predicted a recession. The truth is in the figures," she said.

The debate got heated at several points as the economic policy remained the key dividing line during the fiery programme entitled 'Our Next Prime Minister', which also saw the pair grilled on their tough stance on China and even their dress sense after jibes on social media over Sunak's expensive tastes.