In only a few weeks, Conservative party members will decide the next UK prime minister after Boris Johnson announced last month he would step down following a wave of resignations by members of his government that demolished his political authority.
The two leadership contenders — Liz Truss, foreign secretary and current frontrunner, and Rishi Sunak, former chancellor — have outlined their respective visions for the country during a series of televised debates and hustings.
During the campaign so far, the candidates have clashed on issues such as tax cuts and support to help Britons through the cost of living crisis. With inflation at a 40-year high and rising, household energy bills forecast to surge to £4,427 in April, and further public sector strikes on the horizon, Johnson’s successor will face daunting decisions when he or she is announced on September 5.