Soon after Liz Truss was declared the winner of the Conservative leadership race, the newly-elected prime minister walked past his rival and fellow party member Rishi Sunak without offering him a consolatory handshake.

The result was announced on Monday by the returning officer of the leadership contest and chair of the Conservative Party's powerful 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, Sir Graham Brady, at the&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II Centre near Downing Street.

Truss was elected by the lowest ever margin for a Conservative leader with 57 per cent of the vote compared to 43 per cent for Sunak.

As she was invited to the stage, Truss appeared to ignore her rival as she ascended onto the stage to take the plaudits, reported the Independent.

Sunak sat quietly and nodded his appreciation towards Truss while a round of applause reverberated through the room.

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Addressing the audience, Truss said, "We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy.&nbsp;

"I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people's energy bills, but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply."&nbsp;

She did, however, mention Sunak’s name while paying respects to her other Tory rival candidates.

"I would like to pay my respects to my Tory leadership rival candidates, especially Rishi Sunak. It has been a hard-fought campaign. I think we have shown the depth and breadth of talent in our Conservative Party."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Soon after Liz Truss was declared the winner of the Conservative leadership race, the newly-elected prime minister walked past his rival and fellow party member Rishi Sunak without offering him a consolatory handshake.

Soon after Liz Truss was declared the winner of the Conservative leadership race, the newly-elected prime minister walked past his rival and fellow party member Rishi Sunak without offering him a consolatory handshake. The result was announced on Monday by the returning officer of the leadership contest and chair of the Conservative Party's powerful 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, Sir Graham Brady, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre near Downing Street. Truss was elected by the lowest ever margin for a Conservative leader with 57 per cent of the vote compared to 43 per cent for Sunak. As she was invited to the stage, Truss appeared to ignore her rival as she ascended onto the stage to take the plaudits, reported the Independent. Sunak sat quietly and nodded his appreciation towards Truss while a round of applause reverberated through the room. Liz Truss snubs Rishi Sunak as she becomes Prime Minister without shakin... https://t.co/BFy4YGui8f @YouTubeより — Hero (@gaikokujin) September 5, 2022 × Addressing the audience, Truss said, "We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy. "I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people's energy bills, but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply." She did, however, mention Sunak’s name while paying respects to her other Tory rival candidates. "I would like to pay my respects to my Tory leadership rival candidates, especially Rishi Sunak. It has been a hard-fought campaign. I think we have shown the depth and breadth of talent in our Conservative Party." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch: Liz Truss snubs Rishi Sunak, avoids handshake at Tory leadership results announcement

Britain will soon have a new Prime Minister Liz Truss. Truss has defeated Rishi Sunak in the Tory Leadership Race. It comes after a two-month long contest on who will be the Conservatives.

Tory Leadership Race: Liz Truss to become UK's third female Prime Minister

Liz Truss has won the Conservative leadership race after defeating Rishi Sunak in the contest and is all set to become the next UK prime minister on Tuesday. Truss to become United Kingdom's third female Prime Minister.

From foreign secretary to Prime Minister: Lizz Truss named Conservative party head

Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one. The late Thatcher, for one, the daughter of a grocer, demonstrated in word and deed, that the UK was a land of opportunity- a theme that has, over time diminished for many in the country. Second, the context- that of political economy- is different. Thatcher’s incubus was the economic philosophy of ‘neo-liberalism’ wherein the late leader, among other things, aimed (successfully) to trim the state. But Thatcher’s era was also one where the UK was undergoing profound structural change(s) that did not seem apparent then.

One of these was immigration and immigrant flows into the country, the nature and form of which have changed the complexion of the country. One ‘after effect’ of this development is actually that a brown skinned Indian origin person (Rishi Sunak) could not only think of becoming PM of the UK but also pose a challenge to what was once a ‘white establishment’ governed country. But this fact obscures both a latent and overt trend - one that formed the foundational premise of Brexit- that of a country that is deeply polarized and somewhat at odds with itself. (This includes the yawning gap between Scottish nationalism and the Unionists plus the diminishing returns of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland)

This is the broad context and set of conditions that Ms Truss will inherit. Overlaid by inflation of the nature of decadal highs that has made cost of living exorbitant for ‘ordinary’ Britons, the challenges could not be more fraught and complex for the new prime minister.

Can, the question is, Ms. Truss govern?

Of course, she can. Governing, in the pedestrian sense, is easy. But the UK needs more than governance. Shorn of accretions and rhetoric, Ms Truss needs to, or has to reclaim the country for Britons, in the broadest possible sense. (The term Britons is employed here to include all that form the country’s firmament). How can this be rendered possible? Ms Truss, for starters has to tread a delicate line: she has to foster a sense of belongingness in the country while at the same time disavowing narrow, exclusive nationalism. This is not easy but is doable -something that can be done by broadening the idea and concept of belongingness, fostering non exclusionary pride in the nation. But it would mean broadening the party tent, a possibility that would call for bold and beautiful leadership.

While it is an iffy proposition given the nature of the Conservative Party, other challenges would call for equally bold leadership. One of these is the UK’s standing in the world. It would appear that post-colonial Britain is an addled country. Its ‘island mentality’ has not gone away. Notwithstanding its past(right or wrong), the country is actually inward looking. In prosaic terms, it is neither here nor there. Its foreign and defense policy is latched to that of the United States under the rubric of the ‘special relationship’. The author does not suggest that the UK disavow the special relationship but it may be prudent for the country to have some ‘strategic autonomy’ under the broad umbrella of the relationship. Next, even though it is a ‘bridge too far’ but the UK must repair and calibrate its relationship with the European Union. The why of it is obvious but not so the how of it. This is another area where Ms Truss must demonstrate leadership.

At this point in time, the UK does not have soft power. (Obiter Dictum, Tony Blair’s ‘Cool Britannica’ branding was not only a vulgar and lame rendition of soft power but as shallow as Blair himself). The country needs to think deep and introspect about itself and its position within and without. The world has moved on and so must the UK. In terms of hard power, the UK is not a laggard but surely, its defense and security posture need a rethink and maybe even an overhaul. Here Ms Truss has experience but typically bureaucracies -be these the civil services or the defense establishments all over the world- are defined by inertia. Innovation even of the staid variety is resisted. Again, deft leadership is called for here.

All in all, the distilled essence of this essay is that the UK adrift as it is stands at a cross roads. The country needs able, bold and beautiful leadership; not mere governance or mere economic antidotes. Its challenges are too profound and fraught to be reduced to these. Ms Truss has not ably only won the race for prime minister-ship in the UK but demonstrated verve and staying power. This is just the beginning. A country awaiting reclamation becomes. Ms Truss for the sake of her country must rise to the occasion and redeem the United Kingdom.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one.

Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one. The late Thatcher, for one, the daughter of a grocer, demonstrated in word and deed, that the UK was a land of opportunity- a theme that has, over time diminished for many in the country. Second, the context- that of political economy- is different. Thatcher’s incubus was the economic philosophy of ‘neo-liberalism’ wherein the late leader, among other things, aimed (successfully) to trim the state. But Thatcher’s era was also one where the UK was undergoing profound structural change(s) that did not seem apparent then. One of these was immigration and immigrant flows into the country, the nature and form of which have changed the complexion of the country. One ‘after effect’ of this development is actually that a brown skinned Indian origin person (Rishi Sunak) could not only think of becoming PM of the UK but also pose a challenge to what was once a ‘white establishment’ governed country. But this fact obscures both a latent and overt trend - one that formed the foundational premise of Brexit- that of a country that is deeply polarized and somewhat at odds with itself. (This includes the yawning gap between Scottish nationalism and the Unionists plus the diminishing returns of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland) This is the broad context and set of conditions that Ms Truss will inherit. Overlaid by inflation of the nature of decadal highs that has made cost of living exorbitant for ‘ordinary’ Britons, the challenges could not be more fraught and complex for the new prime minister. Can, the question is, Ms. Truss govern? Of course, she can. Governing, in the pedestrian sense, is easy. But the UK needs more than governance. Shorn of accretions and rhetoric, Ms Truss needs to, or has to reclaim the country for Britons, in the broadest possible sense. (The term Britons is employed here to include all that form the country’s firmament). How can this be rendered possible? Ms Truss, for starters has to tread a delicate line: she has to foster a sense of belongingness in the country while at the same time disavowing narrow, exclusive nationalism. This is not easy but is doable -something that can be done by broadening the idea and concept of belongingness, fostering non exclusionary pride in the nation. But it would mean broadening the party tent, a possibility that would call for bold and beautiful leadership. While it is an iffy proposition given the nature of the Conservative Party, other challenges would call for equally bold leadership. One of these is the UK’s standing in the world. It would appear that post-colonial Britain is an addled country. Its ‘island mentality’ has not gone away. Notwithstanding its past(right or wrong), the country is actually inward looking. In prosaic terms, it is neither here nor there. Its foreign and defense policy is latched to that of the United States under the rubric of the ‘special relationship’. The author does not suggest that the UK disavow the special relationship but it may be prudent for the country to have some ‘strategic autonomy’ under the broad umbrella of the relationship. Next, even though it is a ‘bridge too far’ but the UK must repair and calibrate its relationship with the European Union. The why of it is obvious but not so the how of it. This is another area where Ms Truss must demonstrate leadership. At this point in time, the UK does not have soft power. (Obiter Dictum, Tony Blair’s ‘Cool Britannica’ branding was not only a vulgar and lame rendition of soft power but as shallow as Blair himself). The country needs to think deep and introspect about itself and its position within and without. The world has moved on and so must the UK. In terms of hard power, the UK is not a laggard but surely, its defense and security posture need a rethink and maybe even an overhaul. Here Ms Truss has experience but typically bureaucracies -be these the civil services or the defense establishments all over the world- are defined by inertia. Innovation even of the staid variety is resisted. Again, deft leadership is called for here. All in all, the distilled essence of this essay is that the UK adrift as it is stands at a cross roads. The country needs able, bold and beautiful leadership; not mere governance or mere economic antidotes. Its challenges are too profound and fraught to be reduced to these. Ms Truss has not ably only won the race for prime minister-ship in the UK but demonstrated verve and staying power. This is just the beginning. A country awaiting reclamation becomes. Ms Truss for the sake of her country must rise to the occasion and redeem the United Kingdom. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Can Prime Minister Liz Truss Lead?

The race to 10 Downing Street has finally come to end. Liz Truss has defeated former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become new Prime Minister after a hectic 6 weeks of tours, meetings, campaigns and debates.

Tory Leadership Race: Liz Truss becomes United Kingdom's third female Prime Minister

The race to 10 Downing Street has finally come to end. Liz Truss has defeated former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become new Prime Minister after a hectic 6 weeks of tours, meetings, campaigns and debates. WION in an exclusive interview with Jonathan Lis, senior journalist from London.

Tory Leadership Race: Rishi Sunak loses to Liz Truss, to take over from Boris Johnson

In a few hours from now United Kingdom will get its new Prime Minister. Britain's next leader will take over at a time when the country faces its highest inflation in nearly 40 years, with energy bills soaring and warnings of a recession.

UK Tory Leadership race| Rishi Sunak Vs Lizz Truss: Boris Johnson's successor to be announced today

Tory Leadership Race: Liz Truss gets over 81,000 votes, becomes the new Prime Minister

Liz Truss beats Rishi Sunak in Tory leadership race to become UK's next Prime Minister

After months of campaigning and hustings, the UK has a new Prime Minister and it is not former chancellor Rishi Sunak. The Tory leader was a clear favourite at the beginning of the election trail.

After months of campaigning and hustings, the UK has a new Prime Minister and it is not former chancellor Rishi Sunak. The Tory leader was a clear favourite at the beginning of the election trail. However, somewhere along the way, Sunak lost the plot and surrendered the initiative to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who never let go of the momentum. What were the reasons that Sunak and his popularity amongst the conservatives dived so steeply? WION takes a look and explores. Tax laundering One of the biggest thorns in Sunak's election campaign has been unfortunately his wife Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Indian billionaire and Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. According to a report by The Guardian, Rishi was forced to explain details about how he managed his family's fortune, which is said to total $840 million and has led to him being routinely referred to as the UK’s richest MP. The majority of Sunak's fortune were derived from his marriage to Akshata who owns a 0.93 per cent stake worth $794 million in Infosys. Live updates | Liz Truss becomes new UK PM after beating Rishi Sunak Reports of Akshata touted to be wealthier than British Queen Elizabeth II with assets worth $495 million, according to Sunday Times were not received well by the masses. Moreover, Akshata was able to save millions of pounds in tax on dividends, which were collected from her family's IT business. Last year, she earned a dividend payment worth 11.6 million pounds ($15.1 million) as she owns about 0.9 per cent of Indian IT giant Infosys. After the issue snowballed into a major controversy, Akshata agreed to pay more tax on foreign income. However, the damage had been done by then. Read more: British finance minister Rishi Sunak's wife agrees to pay more tax on foreign income Sunak's tax cuts One of the biggest policy decisions to turn the tide in Truss' favour was Sunak's opposition to not cutting taxes. However, his counterpart, Truss believes that tax cuts will lead to extra spending and tax revenues and rescue the economy. While Truss' populist measure of immediate tax cuts has not received the approval of the economists, it sure has increased her popularity amongst the conservative vote base. It was at this stage that Truss started to pull away from Sunak in the race. Sensing that the margin was widening, Sunak and his team took a volte-face and announced that if elected to power, he will reduce the basic rates of income tax by 20 per cent by 2029. Read more: Trailing in UK PM race, Rishi Sunak promises 'radical' 20% income tax cuts Sunak stated that his immediate target was tackling inflation. However, once that is achieved, his government will slash one pence off income tax in 2024, as announced in his tenure as the chancellor. Afterward, another three pence will be struck off the income tax, come 2029. Additionally, Sunak pledged to scrap VAT on energy bills having vociferously opposed it for months. The green card controversy While the Akshata Murthy tax laundering controversy had barely died down, Sunak was quickly left red-faced as reports emerged suggesting that Sunaks had retained their US green cards, even after returning to Britain. Top members of the Conservative Party dashed his hopes of becoming the PM by questioning his commitment to the UK. “He (Sunak) has shown colossal naivety and the way he has arranged his affairs does not suggest he is even committed to the UK, but that he is keeping open the option of a career in finance in the United States,” a senior Tory leader told The Observer. It was only after much public and media pressure that Sunak confirmed he gave up the "green card" for the United States after he became Britain's finance minister. Sunak's lavish lifestyle As reported by WION, in July, Sunak visited a building site in Teesside, Northern England where he was spotted wearing $595 Prada suede loafers. The Conservative party leader was visiting Teesside to gather the support of Mayor Ben Houchen. However, more than the visit, it was Sunak's "pricey" loafers that grabbed the eyeballs. Read more: Tory leader Rishi Sunak wears $595 Prada loafers on a visit to a building site And this was not the first time that Sunak had garnered headlines for his expensive tastes. In 2020, as the Chancellor of the country, he was spotted using a $220 mug in the traditional pre-Budget photograph. Sunak didn't learn his lessons and came under fire last month as well for spending over $4,80,000 (£400,000) on a pool at his North Yorkshire property as UK residents braced for another heatwave and a rise in the cost of living. Read more: UK: Rishi Sunak's opulent private pool amid rising cost of living sparks row Sunak's aristocratic style Similarly, when Sunak decided to run for the Prime Minister's job, a clip from a video documentary went viral on social media platforms where Sunak could be seen talking about his "aristocratic" friends. "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are, you know, working-class. Well, not working class," Sunak said in the BBC documentary titled 'Middle Classes- Their Rise & Sprawl'. The full Sunak clip is even more toe-curling pic.twitter.com/vIVI6UTPun — Conor Gogarty (@ConorGogarty) July 9, 2022 × He further remarked in the clip, "I mix and match and then I go to see kids from an inner-city state school and tell them to apply to Oxford and talk to them about people like me. And then I shock them at the end of chatting to them for half an hour and tell them I was at Winchester and one of my best friends is from Eton or whatever. And then they're like, 'Oh OK'." The video had brought a lot of flak for Sunak who was dubbed being as out of touch from reality. Since then, Sunak and his PR team had attempted to change the narrative by selling him as the 'underdog'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Five reasons why Rishi Sunak lost the UK Prime Minister election

Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves. Truss (47) has become the third female prime minister of the UK after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.

Initially trailing Sunak, Truss surged ahead as rounds of voting took place. She then consistently led 42-year-old Sunak in polling among estimated 200,000 Tory members eligible to vote. The leadership contest began in July when departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned following a string of scandals.

Truss got 81,326 votes while Sunak got&nbsp;60,399 votes.

After her victory, Truss took to Twitter to celebrate.

"I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential," she tweeted.

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I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. 
 
Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. 
 
I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential. <a href="https://t.co/xCGGTJzjqb">pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb</a>
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) <a href="https://twitter.com/trussliz/status/1566752887857991680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Previously, Truss told the Daily Mail that as prime minister she would "do everything in my power to make sure everyone, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work takes them".

In spite of her brave face, Truss faces a tough task of winning over the general public of the country.

A YouGov poll in late August found 52 per cent people thought Truss would make a "poor" or "terrible" prime minister.

Forty-three per cent said they did not trust her "at all" to deal with the burning issue of the rise in the cost of living.

Truss is entering the office just when energy prices in UK have gone up. There is a palpable anger among the public. She takes office when Europe is affected by the war in Ukraine. Russia has been leveraging its position as Europe's major gas provider to exert political pressure. Energy shortage in Europe may cause greater problems as winter months approach.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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&nbsp;

Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves.

Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves. Truss (47) has become the third female prime minister of the UK after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Initially trailing Sunak, Truss surged ahead as rounds of voting took place. She then consistently led 42-year-old Sunak in polling among estimated 200,000 Tory members eligible to vote. The leadership contest began in July when departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned following a string of scandals. Truss got 81,326 votes while Sunak got 60,399 votes. After her victory, Truss took to Twitter to celebrate. "I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential," she tweeted. I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential. pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb — Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 5, 2022 × Previously, Truss told the Daily Mail that as prime minister she would "do everything in my power to make sure everyone, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work takes them". In spite of her brave face, Truss faces a tough task of winning over the general public of the country. A YouGov poll in late August found 52 per cent people thought Truss would make a "poor" or "terrible" prime minister. Forty-three per cent said they did not trust her "at all" to deal with the burning issue of the rise in the cost of living. Truss is entering the office just when energy prices in UK have gone up. There is a palpable anger among the public. She takes office when Europe is affected by the war in Ukraine. Russia has been leveraging its position as Europe's major gas provider to exert political pressure. Energy shortage in Europe may cause greater problems as winter months approach. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Liz Truss elected new UK Prime Minister, beats Rishi Sunak in leadership race

The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has created a following for herself thanks to her alleged resemblance to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her first leadership battle. Dubbed “the new Iron Lady”, the 46-year-old has&nbsp;replaced Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister of the UK after emerging victorious over&nbsp;Rishi Sunak.

Both of Truss’ parents came from academic backgrounds with father John Kenneth Truss teaching mathematics at the University of Leeds and mother Priscilla Mary being a teacher as well as a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

She studied economics, politics and philosophy at Merton College, Oxford before joining the Conservative Party in 1996. In her first ever election in 2010, she represented the party in South West Norfolk and since then, she has never lost that seat.

Over the course of her career, Truss has held cabinet positions under the leadership of David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. In 2014, she was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and in 2016, she became the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-cabinet-suella-braverman-likely-to-only-indian-origin-member-of-parliament-says-report-512922">first female</a> Lord Chancellor in the history of the office. She also served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury for some time.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-barefoot-and-shirtless-man-was-arrested-for-scaling-londons-1000-feet-tall-skyscraper-the-shard-513051">&nbsp;A barefoot and shirtless man was arrested for scaling London's 1,000-feet tall skyscraper&nbsp;The&nbsp;Shard</a>

Under Boris Johnson, she was made Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade but in 2021, she replaced Dominic Raab and became only second female Foreign Secretary in British history.

During her tenure, she worked extensively on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/luxury-car-stolen-in-uk-found-parked-in-karachi-512783">UK</a>-EU relationship and her key achievement was the release of British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from her detention in Iran.

Left-wing parents and Conservative Liz Truss

Her left-wing math professor father and nuclear disarmament activist mother, whom she accompanied to protests as a child, were both astonished by her decision to join the Conservative Party, according to her own admission."One of his colleagues sent an email when he found out saying: 'I see your daughter's become a T***' (Tory)," Truss told The Guardian of her father. Truss, though, believed that the Tories were a better fit for her support of the tiny state.

'Disruptor-in-chief' and an enemy of 'burdensome red tape

Throughout Boris Johnson's tumultuous three years in Downing Street, Truss has been a steadfast supporter and has positioned herself as the torchbearer of his "boosterish" view of Britain's place in the world. Truss was first chosen by Johnson to serve as his minister of foreign trade and as the spokesperson for his "Global Britain" policy. She secured deals in her capacity, particularly with Australia, Japan, and Norway.

She has stated that, in hindsight, she would have voted against Brexit and touted its advantages for the economy. She identifies herself as a "disruptor-in-chief" and an opponent of "burdensome red tape." However, several MPs have charged her with constant self-promotion.

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(With inputs from agencies)

The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has created a following for herself thanks to her alleged resemblance to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her first leadership battle.

The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has created a following for herself thanks to her alleged resemblance to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her first leadership battle. Dubbed “the new Iron Lady”, the 46-year-old has replaced Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister of the UK after emerging victorious over Rishi Sunak. Both of Truss’ parents came from academic backgrounds with father John Kenneth Truss teaching mathematics at the University of Leeds and mother Priscilla Mary being a teacher as well as a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. She studied economics, politics and philosophy at Merton College, Oxford before joining the Conservative Party in 1996. In her first ever election in 2010, she represented the party in South West Norfolk and since then, she has never lost that seat. Over the course of her career, Truss has held cabinet positions under the leadership of David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. In 2014, she was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and in 2016, she became the first female Lord Chancellor in the history of the office. She also served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury for some time. Also read | A barefoot and shirtless man was arrested for scaling London's 1,000-feet tall skyscraper The Shard Under Boris Johnson, she was made Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade but in 2021, she replaced Dominic Raab and became only second female Foreign Secretary in British history. During her tenure, she worked extensively on the UK-EU relationship and her key achievement was the release of British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from her detention in Iran. Left-wing parents and Conservative Liz Truss Her left-wing math professor father and nuclear disarmament activist mother, whom she accompanied to protests as a child, were both astonished by her decision to join the Conservative Party, according to her own admission."One of his colleagues sent an email when he found out saying: 'I see your daughter's become a T***' (Tory)," Truss told The Guardian of her father. Truss, though, believed that the Tories were a better fit for her support of the tiny state. 'Disruptor-in-chief' and an enemy of 'burdensome red tape Throughout Boris Johnson's tumultuous three years in Downing Street, Truss has been a steadfast supporter and has positioned herself as the torchbearer of his "boosterish" view of Britain's place in the world. Truss was first chosen by Johnson to serve as his minister of foreign trade and as the spokesperson for his "Global Britain" policy. She secured deals in her capacity, particularly with Australia, Japan, and Norway. She has stated that, in hindsight, she would have voted against Brexit and touted its advantages for the economy. She identifies herself as a "disruptor-in-chief" and an opponent of "burdensome red tape." However, several MPs have charged her with constant self-promotion. (With inputs from agencies)

Liz Truss: Main contender against Rishi Sunak becomes the new UK PM

The race to 10 Downing Street is said to end in just a few hours from now. Today, UK will get its new Prime Minister after a hectic 6 weeks of tours, meetings, campaigns and debates.

UK to get its new Prime Minister today

In just a few hours from now, UK will be getting its new Prime Minister. The top two contenders for the 10 downing street, the Foreign Minister Liz Truss and the former chancellor Rishi Sunak have clashed over a whole host of different issues. One issue that both seem to in harmony with, is the need to confront the rising geopolitical threat posed by China.

Tory Leadership Race: Liz Truss set to adopt tougher China approach

According to the British media, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is on course to beat Rishi Sunak to be elected Conservative Party leader and British Prime minister on Monday.

Not only this, the United Kingdom's local media has reported that Suella Braverman is likely to be the only British politician of Indian heritage in the new cabinet.

The report claims that Truss is looking to replace Priti Patel as Home Secretary and believes that Braverman is a suitable candidate for the position.

Braverman, who is currently the Attorney General for England and Wales, was born in the Indian state of Goa.

After being knocked out in the second round of ballots of fellow Tory MPs in mid-July, Braverman had thrown her weight behind Truss.

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Great to be back in Wembley with <a href="https://twitter.com/ToryBc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ToryBc</a> yesterday to talk about why <a href="https://twitter.com/trussliz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trussliz</a> would make a great Prime Minister. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Liz4Leader?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Liz4Leader</a> <a href="https://t.co/G90dqEV9u0">https://t.co/G90dqEV9u0</a>
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuellaBraverman/status/1560530238957920256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to Braverman, ''Liz is ready now to be PM. She won't need to learn on the job. And the job is hard and needs to be done properly. The party has had a difficult six years and stability is urgently and swiftly needed.''

While Patel who has not openly declared her support for either Sunak or Truss, several media reports have claimed that Braverman is set to be rewarded for her support with one of the high offices in the UK government.

While Sunak's camp will still be hanging on to a glimmer of hope for pre-poll forecasts and bookie's odds to be proved wrong when the results are declared at 12.30 pm local time on Monday, for the UK media the result seems to be a foregone conclusion.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/next-uk-leader-to-inherit-an-economy-in-a-bind-512888" hreflang="en">Next UK leader to inherit an economy in a bind</a>

Signalling that he is unlikely to serve in a Truss cabinet, Sunak has said he will support the Conservative government whatever the outcome.

'The Daily Telegraph' quoted a Tory member of Parliament as saying that ''Sunak's talents do need to be used.''

'The Sunday Times' reported that Education Secretary James Cleverly is going to be promoted to Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will become Chancellor of Exchequer.

Meanwhile, the members of Boris Johnson's cabinet who backed her, including Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi will get the portfolio of Northern Ireland Secretary and Cabinet Office minister respectively.

In the new Truss-led Tory government, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries are expected to retain their respective portfolios, as per British media.

(With inputs from agencies)

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According to the British media, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is on course to beat Rishi Sunak to be elected Conservative Party leader and British Prime minister on Monday.

According to the British media, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is on course to beat Rishi Sunak to be elected Conservative Party leader and British Prime minister on Monday. Not only this, the United Kingdom's local media has reported that Suella Braverman is likely to be the only British politician of Indian heritage in the new cabinet. The report claims that Truss is looking to replace Priti Patel as Home Secretary and believes that Braverman is a suitable candidate for the position. Braverman, who is currently the Attorney General for England and Wales, was born in the Indian state of Goa. After being knocked out in the second round of ballots of fellow Tory MPs in mid-July, Braverman had thrown her weight behind Truss. Great to be back in Wembley with @ToryBc yesterday to talk about why @trussliz would make a great Prime Minister. #Liz4Leader https://t.co/G90dqEV9u0 — Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) August 19, 2022 × According to Braverman, ''Liz is ready now to be PM. She won't need to learn on the job. And the job is hard and needs to be done properly. The party has had a difficult six years and stability is urgently and swiftly needed.'' While Patel who has not openly declared her support for either Sunak or Truss, several media reports have claimed that Braverman is set to be rewarded for her support with one of the high offices in the UK government. While Sunak's camp will still be hanging on to a glimmer of hope for pre-poll forecasts and bookie's odds to be proved wrong when the results are declared at 12.30 pm local time on Monday, for the UK media the result seems to be a foregone conclusion. Also see | Next UK leader to inherit an economy in a bind Signalling that he is unlikely to serve in a Truss cabinet, Sunak has said he will support the Conservative government whatever the outcome. 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted a Tory member of Parliament as saying that ''Sunak's talents do need to be used.'' 'The Sunday Times' reported that Education Secretary James Cleverly is going to be promoted to Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will become Chancellor of Exchequer. Meanwhile, the members of Boris Johnson's cabinet who backed her, including Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi will get the portfolio of Northern Ireland Secretary and Cabinet Office minister respectively. In the new Truss-led Tory government, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries are expected to retain their respective portfolios, as per British media. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

UK cabinet: Suella Braverman likely to be only Indian-origin member of parliament, says report

Signalling his defeat in the Tory leadership race ahead of Monday’s election results, Rishi Sunak said that his job would be to support the next government.

Speaking to BBC before the declarations of election results, the Indian-origin former chancellor said he intends to stay on as a Parliament MP if he is not elected as the British Prime Minister.

He further said that he would continue to work for his constituents in Richmond, Yorkshire, if he is defeated by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

When asked about his future plans if he loses, Sunak said, “I look forward to supporting the Conservative government in whatever capacity.”

“I'm going to stay as a member of Parliament It's been a great privilege to represent my constituents in Richmond in North Yorkshire as their member of Parliament and I'll love to keep doing that as long as they'll have me,” he added.

When further asked if he would consider running again for the top job at 10 Downing Street in a few years' time if he loses this time, Rishi said, “We've just finished this campaign. I'd say... I need to recover from this one."

From managing to gain leads during the early phase of the contest, Sunak has been trailing behind Truss in recent surveys of Tory party members voting to elect Boris Johnson’s successor.

While Truss had repeatedly laid emphasis on immediate tax cuts, Sunak, in contrast, had pledged to delay tax cuts until inflation is controlled.

An estimated 160,000 Tory members have cast votes through online and postal ballots at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).

The winner will be announced on Monday at 12.30 pm (local time) by Sir Graham Brady chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs and returning officer of the leadership election.

Then, the newly elected Tory leader will make a brief acceptance speech soon after at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in central London near Downing Street.

The rest of Monday will involve the winning candidate putting the final touches to his or her Cabinet posts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Signalling his defeat in the Tory leadership race ahead of Monday’s election results, Rishi Sunak said that his job would be to support the next government. Speaking to BBC before the declarations of election results, the Indian-origin former chancellor said he intends to stay on as a Parliament MP if he is not elected as the British Prime Minister.

Signalling his defeat in the Tory leadership race ahead of Monday’s election results, Rishi Sunak said that his job would be to support the next government. Speaking to BBC before the declarations of election results, the Indian-origin former chancellor said he intends to stay on as a Parliament MP if he is not elected as the British Prime Minister. He further said that he would continue to work for his constituents in Richmond, Yorkshire, if he is defeated by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. When asked about his future plans if he loses, Sunak said, “I look forward to supporting the Conservative government in whatever capacity.” “I'm going to stay as a member of Parliament It's been a great privilege to represent my constituents in Richmond in North Yorkshire as their member of Parliament and I'll love to keep doing that as long as they'll have me,” he added. When further asked if he would consider running again for the top job at 10 Downing Street in a few years' time if he loses this time, Rishi said, “We've just finished this campaign. I'd say... I need to recover from this one." From managing to gain leads during the early phase of the contest, Sunak has been trailing behind Truss in recent surveys of Tory party members voting to elect Boris Johnson’s successor. While Truss had repeatedly laid emphasis on immediate tax cuts, Sunak, in contrast, had pledged to delay tax cuts until inflation is controlled. An estimated 160,000 Tory members have cast votes through online and postal ballots at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ). The winner will be announced on Monday at 12.30 pm (local time) by Sir Graham Brady chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs and returning officer of the leadership election. Then, the newly elected Tory leader will make a brief acceptance speech soon after at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in central London near Downing Street. The rest of Monday will involve the winning candidate putting the final touches to his or her Cabinet posts. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Looking forward to supporting next govt’: Has Sunak admitted defeat ahead of Monday’s election results?

The United Kingdom is awaiting the results of the Tory Leadership Race which will be announced on Monday. Although, Former Chancellor Sunak was leading the opinion polls initially, Truss is now tipped to become the next UK Prime Minister with online and post-show polls now closed.

Tory Leadership Race: Liz Truss tipped to become the next UK PM

Next UK leader to inherit an economy in a bind

We are into the final hours now of voting in the leadership election for the country's conservative party. Liz Truss, the current foreign secretary and Rishi Sunak the former chancellor have been running against each other for weeks now.

Tory leadership race: New UK PM to be announced on September 5

In exactly 3 days from now, the United Kingdom will have its new Prime Minister and the two hopefuls who are vying to replace Boris Johnson are former chancellor Rishi Sunak and UK foreign secretary Liz Truss. Britain's next leader will take power at a time when the country faces its highest inflation in nearly 40 years.

UK: New PM to face staff walkout on Day-1, challenges lined up

In four days from now, United Kingdom will get its new Prime Minister. Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were eye to eye in their 12th and recent leadership debate.

Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss make final attempts to woo Tory leaders; contenders address inflation, energy crisis

The team of Rishi Sunak, who is one of two candidates vying to be Britain's next premier, thinks that the former finance minister's references to the Silicon Valley in California might have impacted his chances in the Conservative Party leadership contest.&nbsp;

Sources within Sunak's Ready4Rishi campaign team told The Daily Telegraph that they felt things were not going the right way when Sunak mentioned Silicon Valley three times in 10 minutes in a debate.&nbsp;

In the first week of August, Sunak was asked about the career he would choose as a young graduate at Eastbourne, during a debate at Eastbourne.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-uk-foreign-secretary-liz-truss-plans-to-declare-china-an-official-threat-511048">In a first, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss plans to declare China an official threat</a>&nbsp;

Sunak was trying to woo Tory members for the voting, between him and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, when he answered the question about the career he would choose as a young graduate by reflecting on the "culture" of enterprise he saw while living on the West Coast of the US between 2004 and 2006.&nbsp;

He replied, "I think it's incredibly inspiring and empowering. If I was a young person, I'd want to go and do something like that."&nbsp;

The report mentioned that his answer made the team think that Sunak's focus is on California showed he was out of touch and summed up his failure to win over grassroots Tory members.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-hms-prince-of-wales-breaks-down-a-day-after-leaving-portsmouth-511063">The HMS Prince of Wales breaks down a day after leaving Portsmouth</a>&nbsp;

The recent polls have shown that members are backing Truss by more than two to one. It means the chances of Sunak succeeding are slim.&nbsp;

A source on the campaign told the newspaper, "People started to say that it wasn't going to happen now and he wasn't connecting with voters in the room."&nbsp;

The source said, "He kept talking about California and tech. It became an open secret within the campaign that he wasn't going to win. That hustings was the point things really took a turn as everyone started to realise that."&nbsp;

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The team of Rishi Sunak, who is one of two candidates vying to be Britain's next premier, thinks that the former finance minister's references to the Silicon Valley in California might have impacted his chances in the Conservative Party leadership contest.

The team of Rishi Sunak, who is one of two candidates vying to be Britain's next premier, thinks that the former finance minister's references to the Silicon Valley in California might have impacted his chances in the Conservative Party leadership contest. Sources within Sunak's Ready4Rishi campaign team told The Daily Telegraph that they felt things were not going the right way when Sunak mentioned Silicon Valley three times in 10 minutes in a debate. In the first week of August, Sunak was asked about the career he would choose as a young graduate at Eastbourne, during a debate at Eastbourne. ALSO READ | In a first, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss plans to declare China an official threat Sunak was trying to woo Tory members for the voting, between him and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, when he answered the question about the career he would choose as a young graduate by reflecting on the "culture" of enterprise he saw while living on the West Coast of the US between 2004 and 2006. He replied, "I think it's incredibly inspiring and empowering. If I was a young person, I'd want to go and do something like that." The report mentioned that his answer made the team think that Sunak's focus is on California showed he was out of touch and summed up his failure to win over grassroots Tory members. ALSO READ | The HMS Prince of Wales breaks down a day after leaving Portsmouth The recent polls have shown that members are backing Truss by more than two to one. It means the chances of Sunak succeeding are slim. A source on the campaign told the newspaper, "People started to say that it wasn't going to happen now and he wasn't connecting with voters in the room." The source said, "He kept talking about California and tech. It became an open secret within the campaign that he wasn't going to win. That hustings was the point things really took a turn as everyone started to realise that." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rishi Sunak's chances 'impacted' by his references to Silicon Valley in California: Report

Former Chancellor and Conservative Leadership contender Rishi Sunak has slammed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Covid-19 management policies. Sunak says that Johnson let the lockdown go on for too long.

UK: Sunak slams Johnson's Covid-19 policy, speaks on lockdowns

Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India.

During a campaign hustings event hosted by the Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) diaspora organisation in north London on Monday evening, the former Chancellor greeted the largely British Indian gathering with a mix of traditional greetings such as "namaste, salaam, khem cho, and kidda."

He even broke into Hindi: "Aap sab mere parivar ho (you all are my family)."

"We know the UK-India relationship is important. We represent the living bridge between our two countries,"&nbsp;he said, in response to a question about bilateral ties from CFIN co-chair Reena Ranger.

"We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and do things in India, but actually we need to look at that relationship differently because there is an enormous amount that we here in the UK can learn from India," he said.

"I want to make sure that it's easy for our students to also travel to India and learn, that it's also easy for our companies and Indian companies to work together because it's not just a one-way relationship, it's a two-way relationship, and that's the type of change I want to bring to that relationship,"&nbsp;he said.

On China, the former minister reiterated his stand about the need to be "very robust"&nbsp;in defending the UK against its aggressiveness.

"China and the Chinese Communist Party represent the biggest threat to our economic and thereby national security that this country has faced in a long time and we need to be alive to that,"&nbsp;he said.

"Be in no doubt, as your Prime Minister I will do whatever it takes to keep you, your families and our country safe because that's the first duty of a Conservative Prime Minister,"&nbsp;he added.

After a grand entry at the Dhamecha Lohana Centre in Harrow to dhol beats and loud cheers, the former minister spoke briefly and then spent hours interacting with hundreds of Tory members who queued up to shake hands with him.

He was showered with blessings by the elderly in the crowd, patted on the back by others and eight-year-old Tanish Sahu got a special picture as Sunak carried him in his arms.

Amita Mishra, the Trustee of Shree Jagannatha Society UK, handed over a set of gold-plated deities all the way from India.

"We are working on creating a Jagannath Temple in London and this gift is a special blessing all the way from India,"&nbsp;said Mishra, who was accompanied by a pandit who performed a victory shloka from the" Bhagavad Gita' as the deities were handed over to Sunak on stage.

In complete contrast, a British Sikh Tory member in the crowd waited hours to get a special bottle of Jack Daniels whisky signed by Sunak,&nbsp;despite both him and the former Chancellor being teetotalers.

"I don't drink but this is a special gift I received on my birthday and now with this signature it has become historic,"&nbsp;he said.

In this gathering, his self-proclaimed underdog status as the candidate trailing in all the polls seemed irrelevant as he glided through the crowds rockstar-like and responded to comments of 'see you at No. 10 Downing Street'&nbsp;with an emphatic: "That's the plan, I'm giving it everything I got."

The majority in the room admitted they had already cast their online ballots in favour of Sunak and had come along to this latest hustings just to hear him out one more time.

One sceptical British Indian investment banker said he was still undecided as he did not entirely favour Sunak's handling of the Bounce Back Loan scheme introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns, which have been "abused" by many.

But even he admitted that his vote might go to Sunak in the end as he wasn't entirely convinced by leadership rival Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

But what a majority seemed convinced about was that Sunak's Indian origin and ethnic minority background had no part to play in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and the British Prime Minister.

"This country is not racist. For Rishi to reach this stage, it proves that merit is valued,"&nbsp;said Lord Dolar Popat, a veteran Tory peer.

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Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India.

Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India. During a campaign hustings event hosted by the Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) diaspora organisation in north London on Monday evening, the former Chancellor greeted the largely British Indian gathering with a mix of traditional greetings such as "namaste, salaam, khem cho, and kidda." He even broke into Hindi: "Aap sab mere parivar ho (you all are my family)." "We know the UK-India relationship is important. We represent the living bridge between our two countries," he said, in response to a question about bilateral ties from CFIN co-chair Reena Ranger. "We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and do things in India, but actually we need to look at that relationship differently because there is an enormous amount that we here in the UK can learn from India," he said. "I want to make sure that it's easy for our students to also travel to India and learn, that it's also easy for our companies and Indian companies to work together because it's not just a one-way relationship, it's a two-way relationship, and that's the type of change I want to bring to that relationship," he said. On China, the former minister reiterated his stand about the need to be "very robust" in defending the UK against its aggressiveness. "China and the Chinese Communist Party represent the biggest threat to our economic and thereby national security that this country has faced in a long time and we need to be alive to that," he said. "Be in no doubt, as your Prime Minister I will do whatever it takes to keep you, your families and our country safe because that's the first duty of a Conservative Prime Minister," he added. After a grand entry at the Dhamecha Lohana Centre in Harrow to dhol beats and loud cheers, the former minister spoke briefly and then spent hours interacting with hundreds of Tory members who queued up to shake hands with him. He was showered with blessings by the elderly in the crowd, patted on the back by others and eight-year-old Tanish Sahu got a special picture as Sunak carried him in his arms. Amita Mishra, the Trustee of Shree Jagannatha Society UK, handed over a set of gold-plated deities all the way from India. "We are working on creating a Jagannath Temple in London and this gift is a special blessing all the way from India," said Mishra, who was accompanied by a pandit who performed a victory shloka from the" Bhagavad Gita' as the deities were handed over to Sunak on stage. In complete contrast, a British Sikh Tory member in the crowd waited hours to get a special bottle of Jack Daniels whisky signed by Sunak, despite both him and the former Chancellor being teetotalers. "I don't drink but this is a special gift I received on my birthday and now with this signature it has become historic," he said. In this gathering, his self-proclaimed underdog status as the candidate trailing in all the polls seemed irrelevant as he glided through the crowds rockstar-like and responded to comments of 'see you at No. 10 Downing Street' with an emphatic: "That's the plan, I'm giving it everything I got." The majority in the room admitted they had already cast their online ballots in favour of Sunak and had come along to this latest hustings just to hear him out one more time. One sceptical British Indian investment banker said he was still undecided as he did not entirely favour Sunak's handling of the Bounce Back Loan scheme introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns, which have been "abused" by many. But even he admitted that his vote might go to Sunak in the end as he wasn't entirely convinced by leadership rival Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. But what a majority seemed convinced about was that Sunak's Indian origin and ethnic minority background had no part to play in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and the British Prime Minister. "This country is not racist. For Rishi to reach this stage, it proves that merit is valued," said Lord Dolar Popat, a veteran Tory peer. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

I want to change UK-India relationship to make it more two-way: Rishi Sunak

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