The race for Prime Minister of the United Kingdom between leading contenders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss has stirred up European politics. The Conservative party’s chosen leader would inherit a shattered economy and be responsible for developing foreign policy in the midst of highly volatile world order.
Recent polls suggest a comfortable lead for the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs – Liz Truss. However, certain developments could alter dynamics before the final voting is scheduled in the first week of September.
Liz Disrespects the Working Class
Liz is advocating tax cuts for the working class and is portraying herself to be the messiah of the people of the United Kingdom. On the other hand, she has always been disrespectful of the hard work put in by the people of her country.
A leaked recording of Liz Truss, published in the Guardian, dates back to sometime between 2017 and 2019 when she was Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the number two post under the UK’s finance minister.
Read More: Dear ultra-conservatives among Tories, here is why you should back Rishi Sunak
“We say it’s all Europe that’s causing all these problems, it’s all, it’s migrants that’s causing these problems but actually, what needs to happen is, you know, a bit more… a bit more graft (she laughs). It’s not a popular message.” Truss said in the recording.
Lizz Truss was against Brexit and had also been very vocal about the same. One could easily decode her mindset from the leaked recording. It is quite clear that she is of the opinion that being part of the EU had nothing to do with the downfall of the UK.
“British workers produce less per hour… and that’s a combination of the kind of skills and application,” Truss says, adding that the situation is very different in London compared to the rest of the country.
“Essentially it’s partly a sort of mindset and attitude thing I think… It’s the working culture basically. If you go to China, it’s quite different, I can assure you,” she went on saying.
Chameleon-like Characteristics
A true leader is expected to remain true to her ideals. She would have been respected much more if she stayed aligned with her idea of opposing Brexit. However, the changing political scenario forced her to take a 360° turn and portray herself to be the biggest Brexit supporter.
Although recent polls suggest Truss leading by a considerable margin against Sunak, doubt still looms whether things would remain the same once the Conservative Party members learn about the anti-British opinions of their foreign minister.
Sunak is often targeted as a traitor to Boris Johnson, and that notion has possibly played out against him in the polls. However, many ultra-conservatives have come to Sunak’s aid in the crisis.
Read More: The Sunak effect: the UK abandons its Russia hawk policy
Former Tory leader Michael Howard, another Sunak supporter, has defended the former chancellor over accusations of disloyalty, after his resignation last month helped spark a cabinet revolt against Johnson.
In a piece for The Mail, Lord Howard said there was sometimes a “higher loyalty” to the nation by getting rid of leaders – as he appeared to compare Sunak to Winston Churchill.
“It may seem a far-fetched comparison to some but if many Conservative MPs in 1940 had not refused to support Neville Chamberlain, we might never have had Winston Churchill as our prime minister,” he said
Sunak may have betrayed his leader for the good of the nation but Truss had long fostered notions against the very people she now promises to lead.
