Rishi and Liz in new tax clash as candidates make pitch to capital

RISHI SUNAK and Liz Truss stepped up their battle over taxes today as the five contenders to be the next Prime Minister unveiled their vision for London.

- Nicholas Cecil, Rachael Burford and David Bond

Former chancellor Mr Sunak's team put him forward as the most experienced contender to "steer us through the turbulence" of the worsening cost-of-living crisis, having saved the jobs of thousands of Londoners during the pandemic, and with a "clear economic plan" for the City.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss' campaign were championing her as the "true grit" candidate to fight "adversity" on the world stage from Russia and China as well as at home with her tax-cutting agenda, and with the "intelligence to see difficult decisions through".

Ex-international development secretary Penny Mordaunt's allies were stressing that she stands for "morality" and would be able to "reclaim" Lon- don from Labour as the Tories return to their "core beliefs of aspiration and hard work".