Britain's Next Prime Minister to Face Turbulent Times Amid Election Campaign

Britain's next prime minister, to be elected on September 5, will take office amidst widespread turmoil, including galloping inflation, a war in Ukraine, souring relations with China, and a changing climate. The two candidates, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, are vying for the votes of about 180,000 Conservative Party members. Their campaign promises highlight differing stances on key issues, such as the economy, immigration, Brexit, climate change, and foreign policy.

Key Takeaways:

• The economy has dominated the contest, with Truss promising immediate tax cuts, scrapping a 1.25% income tax hike, and canceling a planned corporation tax rise, while Sunak says he would get inflation under control before trimming taxes.
• Both candidates have doubled down on the Johnson government's controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers arriving in the U.K. on a one-way trip to Rwanda, but Truss has suggested expanding the program to other countries.
• Both candidates are keen champions of Brexit, denying that it was responsible for hours-long delays faced by travelers and truckers at the port of Dover, but plan to rip up parts of the U.K.-EU Brexit treaty governing trade with Northern Ireland.
• Truss has talked about using technology and building more offshore wind farms, while Sunak has proposed using renewable energy projects and removing a "green levy" on energy bills.
• Both candidates promise to continue staunch support for Ukraine, providing 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) in military and humanitarian aid, and training Ukrainian troops on U.K. soil.
• Truss has pledged to raise defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, while Sunak has not specified a target date for achieving this goal.
• Both candidates are hawkish on China, with Truss addressing the "network of liberty" and opposing Chinese investment in U.K. infrastructure projects, while Sunak has hardened his tone, calling China the "biggest-long term threat to Britain."

Statistics:

• Britain is facing its tightest cost-of-living squeeze for decades, with 9.4% inflation, and the economy has dominated the contest.
• The Conservative Party has about 180,000 members voting in the election.
• The U.K. government has given Ukraine 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) in military and humanitarian aid since Russia's invasion.
• Britain has 30 Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes, which Sunak has pledged to close if elected.
• NATO recommends defense spending above 2% of GDP.

Sources:

• AP news wire
• The Institute for Fiscal Studies
• The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee
• Greenpeace
• Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian