‘It’s socialism’: heated Tory leadership debate exposes deep divisions

Truss says Sunak will choke economic growth by raising taxes while he accuses her of not being conservative

Rishi Sunak accused his rival Conservative leadership candidates of promoting socialism" by promising unfunded tax cuts, as the deep divisions in the party over economic policy were exposed in a bad-tempered televised debate.

As the contenders clashed repeatedly over tax and spending in the ITV debate, Liz Truss confronted her former cabinet colleague, saying: Rishi, you have raised taxes to the highest level in 70 years. That is not going to drive economic growth.