Sun readers grill Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss after leader debate cut short

RISHI Sunak and Liz Truss met with Sun readers for a personal grilling after the debate was cut short after host Kate McCann fell unwell.

The two contenders spent time with the studio audience after the TalkTV debate had to be paused half way through after the star presenter fainted.

The Tory rivals had a 30-minute interrogation from the telly host as they were probed on the NHS, tax rises and soaring food prices.

The two politicians sent their best wishes to the TalkTV Political Editor saying they hoped to be quizzed by her at a later date in the contest.

Both the Foreign Secretary and ex-Chancellor made time to meet ten audience members afterwards where they discussed hot topics including the cost of living and EU red tape.

The readers welcomed the two candidates spending time with them as Ms McCann recovered at the studio in Ealing, west London.

Gemma Keogh, 34, from Manchester, who asked the pair about supermarket prices in the live show, said: “I did feel like I’d been listened to.”

Jordan Kiss, 21, from Warrington, also hailed the pair for answering “all our questions” ranging from the cost of living to EU red tape.

He said: “They introduced themselves, they were very personable. They answered all our questions. They didn’t avoid anything. I think they really did a good job actually. I was quite impressed.”

Trainee KFC manager Simon English, who was watching down the line, said: “If you were scoring it as a football score it would be Rishi 2, Liz 0.”

Earlier, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak locked horns as they faced questions from Sun readers in the race for Number 10.

The Foreign Secretary went on the attack immediately accusing the ex-Chancellor of being “morally wrong” over his hikes to National Insurance and corporation tax.

The bookies’ favourite said: “It’s wrong, that we currently have the highest tax burden in this country that we’ve had for 70 years.

“And I believe that Sun readers want us to keep to our manifesto commitment of not raising taxes. I’m somebody who does what I say I will do.”

Mr Sunak, whose resignation from Cabinet led to the downfall of Boris Johnson, defended the decisions he made while serving in government.

The underdog said: “Sun readers will have to make up their own minds. But I think Sun readers are sensible enough and have enough common sense to know that you don’t get something for nothing and we do need to pay for things. I think everyone accepts that.

“So the question is how do we pay for things? I think it’s reasonable to ask the largest companies to pay a little bit more.”

But Ms Truss, who celebrated her 47th birthday yesterday, said the decisions to raise taxes were “morally wrong”.

But Mr Sunak hit back, saying: “I think what’s morally wrong is asking our children and grandchildren to pick up the tab for the bills that we’re not prepared to meet.”

The Foreign Secretary hit back immediately saying: “It’s not true, it’s not true.”

He claimed that he was “brave” to introduce the £12 billion tax hike to pay for the health social care despite getting “a lot of criticism” for the decision.

On the corporation tax rise due next year, she bluntly said: “Companies have a choice about whether they invest in the UK, or whether they invest elsewhere.”

In an emotional question, John Hughes, from Birmingham, asked the pair why he wasn’t receiving sufficient care and has to rely on a charity since he was diagnosed with cancer. He asked: “Why is the NHS broken?”

Ms Truss, who admitted King’s Lynn hospital, Norfolk, in her constituency is held up by stilts, said: “I simply don’t think that people can sit there in Whitehall and direct everything that happens in local communities across our country.

“And I would like to see more support based in GP surgery. so fewer people have to end up in hospital. Also focusing on things like ambulance waiting times which are a real issue as well, particularly in rural areas.

“This is all about giving more power locally, and making sure that we trust the professionals, you really know what they’re doing.”

The ex-Chancellor, who said he would focus on new technologies, added: “I’m confident that we can get the waitlist down quicker people like John will get the treatment that they need quicker.

“But we’re not gonna be able to do any of that, if the NHS doesn’t have the security.”

During the debate, both candidates committed to fracking if local communities give the green light.

In a quick-fire question round, they both remained firmly committed to keeping the recent 5p fuel duty cut introduced in the Spring Statement.

Mr Sunak was also asked a direct question by Andrew, in London, who works at Heathrow, on dealing with winter fuel bills and standing up to Vladimir Putin if he turns off all the gas pipes to Europe.

He replied that as Chancellor he worked with fellow finance Ministers to put in place a sanctions package “we had never seen” to “tighten the grip on Putin’s war machine”.

He added: “I want to be honest with you about that part of us standing up to Putin is all of us as a country recognising what that’s going to do to our energy bills.

“And having the resolve to get through that supporting people as we go. Because ultimately that’s what our values are about, it’s about protecting those countries that are being attacked. It’s about standing up for freedom.”

Sun reader Ms Keogh asked the candidates about the price of meat on her weekly shop saying they are out of control.

Mr Sunak replied: “We want to make sure that the supermarkets and all the other people in the supply chain are being fair and how they price these things and that no one is taking advantage of the situation to pass on price rises that aren’t necesaary.”

He added: “I would hold everyone to account to make sure you get the cheapest possible prices.”

Ms Truss would slash red tape for farmers to make producing food in Britain cheaper.

Sun Editor Victoria Newton opened the show telling the candidates our readers were most concerned about the cost of living crisis, immigration and making Brexit work.

It was the second live debate between the two candidates with ballot papers being sent out to Tory members from the beginnning of next week.

Hours before Trending In The News debate, Truss blasted Mr Sunak’s plan for the economy saying it would end in catastrophe across the board.

She said: “It would be a disaster for people who are homeowners. It would be a disaster for people who go out to work. It would be a disaster for people who run businesses.”

She also said that it would “put off people who want to invest in Britain” as Sunak aims to put up taxes on corporations which will lead to less investment, lower productivity and fewer job opportunities.