“Rishi Sunak was the most inspiring”
In a reversal of sentiment, Telegraph readers, who previously overwhelmingly supported Liz Truss, were supportive of Rishi Sunak’s “inspirational” performance at the event, calling the former chancellor decisive and determined. In contrast, readers judged Liz Truss’s display as safer and underwhelming.
@Ian Lumsden:
“I have just seen the two candidates, it is not too difficult to agree that Rishi Sunak was the most inspiring. In fact, unlike his wooden opponent, he gave a rousing speech. I wonder how many members saw and are open enough to mind as to abandon him. Liz Truss? She would lose to Labor in two years. Sunak at least gives us a chance.”
@The truth matters:
“We’re going to need a real inspiration to get us through the next few years, someone who’s on fire and has optimism. Liz Truss is not that kind of person. She doesn’t even sound convincing when she says, ‘It’s great you’re here.’ Rishi Sunak at least has some bounce.”
@David Doig:
“I’m afraid I had to shut Liz Truss down. There was a long list of tax cuts and a long list of spending proposals with no concept of having to pay for any of them. Surely the hunting ones they can’t be so gullible as to believe what he’s saying. Apart from that, there was a long list of platitudes.”
@Richard Roberts:
“Liz Truss’ yes and no round showed she was very weak: no dramatic reform of the BBC, no cap on immigration, keeping net zero, no dramatic reduction in the size of government. She is no Tory candidate.”
@PE Bouch:
“Liz Truss can’t answer a question properly. She’s useless. At least Rishi Sunak is willing to tell some home truths even if people don’t want to hear it.”
“Liz Truss has better chance of beating Labor and Lib Dems”
However, other readers argued that Liz Truss’ firmness made her right for the job, as the Foreign Secretary appeared confident and more composed in the face of Rishi Sunak’s “fake enthusiasm”, which put many off readers
@John Dee:
“I’m starting to like Liz Truss more and more. She is a radical democrat determined to stand up to the anti-democratic ‘establishment’. If she wins, hers will be a revolution supported by the UK’s democratic majority.”
@West goes west:
“It was a clear win for Liz Truss. Rishi Sunak can’t escape his record of failure on the economy: failing to keep the Bank of England on the straight and narrow when it got carried away by inflation, breaking manifesto commitments. on tax and her socialist view on increased spending and benefits. She doesn’t seem to know the importance of low taxes to promote growth and investment. By comparison, Liz Truss seemed more confident and communicated well.”
@Andrew Clark:
“I’m definitely with Liz Truss on this, especially on the energy side.
“Rishi Sunak is basically saying he’s going to do the same thing he did during lockdown, he’s going to borrow hundreds of billions of pounds and give them in sheets. He didn’t mention anything on the supply side. That’s scary .
“I’m also suspicious of the ‘independence’ of central banks. Just because they’re independent of their country’s governments doesn’t mean they’re independent of murkier, less savory interests.”
@Geoffrey Thirlby:
“Whoever wins the leadership contest, one thing is certain: Rishi Sunak will lose the next general election. Liz Truss at least has a better chance of beating Labor and the Liberals. She has more foresight than Rishi Sunak, where he is. tell members Tories more of the same is right, where at least Liz Truss offers an option of something different. Time will tell if she’s right.”
@Rab Cha:
“Watching this debate reminded me of a typical departmental meeting. Rishi Sunak is the over-the-top middle manager trying to impress the boss and climb the greasy pole. Liz Truss is the seasoned old hand who just gets on with the job.”
“All that is offered is a choice between Truss recession or Sunak depression”
Meanwhile, others remained undecided, sharing their disillusionment with both candidates and suggesting that neither of their promises addressed the key issues facing the nation.
@Michelle Page:
“This is starting to get sick. We’re heading into the worst recession in living memory as a direct result of atrocious energy policies, but they’re still committed to net zero.
“I don’t want someone to take everything I’ve grafted in and throw a few pennies at me as pocket change, but all that seems to be on offer is a choice between Truss recession or Sunak’s all-out depression.
“We also have no hope of tackling inflation until this energy mess is sorted out, and in the long term that means restoring our energy security, which is not possible while we are hamstrung by ridiculous net zero targets. In the short term, brochures. are not the answer because rising energy costs will continue to drive up the price of everything else, making each brochure worthless the moment it is received.”
@Anonymous:
“The Conservatives will be eliminated at the next election, whoever wins this contest. Both have been part of the Government supporting inflationary policies, doing nothing about the housing crisis, nothing to solve Brexit and both leaving debts horrible for our children and clean despite the lies they tell us”.
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