-
Sunak, Truss take part in UK leadership debate in Birmingham

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and current Foreign Secretary Liz Truss took part in a leadership campaign event Tuesday (August 23) in Birmingham, England, according to the Andolu Agency.
The pair took turns answering questions in front of an audience comprised of party members, it said.
Elizabeth Truss was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 15 September 2021.
Truss studied philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford. She entered Parliament in 2010.
Truss said she would legislate for single sex spaces, including domestic violence shelters, as part of her desire to push back against the “identity politics of the left.”
She pledged to put more police on the streets and increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
On crime specifically, she said: “There is a serious problem in this country with gun crime, there’s a serious problem with gangs, there’s a serious problem with knife crime, and I’m absolutely determined we get a grip on that.”
I have a bold vision for our country and economy.
— Liz for Leader (@trussliz) August 5, 2022
I'm ready to deliver as Prime Minister from day one. pic.twitter.com/Tm8xd6Sj5v
She also said schools should be open for longer and youth clubs made available so young people have “alternative places to be” and so be less likely to “fall prey to gangs or go off in the wrong direction.”
She doubled down on her main campaign pledge to cut taxes because she did not believe in “taking money in taxes and giving it back in benefits,” a policy she associated with the opposition center-left Labour Party. Her tax plan would help with the cost-of-living crisis, she said.
“This whole language of ‘unfunded’ tax cuts implies the static model, the so-called abacus economics that the Treasury orthodoxy has promoted for years, but it hasn’t worked in our economy because what we have ended up with is high tax, high spending and low growth. That is not a sustainable model for Britain’s future,” Truss said.
We have to make an argument about the union that is based on our shared values.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) August 23, 2022
That speaks to people’s hearts.
That’s what I’ll do as Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/1sQe5xSWnI
Truss also said she would “unleash” the opportunities of Brexit and expand grammar schools, that is academically selective schools.
For his part, Sunak said he would cut the value-added tax (VAT) on energy bills to help deal with the cost-living-crisis.
Sunak was previously appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from 13 February 2020 to 5 July 2022.
UK PM candidate Sunak urges G20 to bar Russia's Putin from its meetings
He went to Winchester College and studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University.
He spent his professional career before politics in business and finance, working internationally. In May 2015, he was elected Conservative MP for Richmond (Yorks)
He praised Margaret Thatcher as the “greatest post-war prime minister” and said she is the standard he holds himself to.
On taxes, Sunak said: “I think unfunded tax cuts are wrong, and do you know what? Her (Thatcher’s) chancellor Nigel Lawson agrees with me, the head of her policy unit agrees with me, Norman Lamont agrees with me.
Sunak, Truss rule out second Scottish independence referendum
“All of these people who understood Margaret Thatcher’s economics are supporting my economic plan because it is the right one for our country and it is a Conservative approach to managing the economy.”
On crime, Sunak said he would increase stop and search measures, adding: “What is clear is there are things that hold us back from getting to grips with our crime in this country.”
“I won’t let political correctness get in the way of keeping us safe,” he said.
Poll shows Liz Truss has only 5pct lead over Rishi Sunak in race to become UK PM
Sunak repeated his pledge to fine those who miss hospital appointments in a bid to encourage people to cancel their appointments early as part of his plan to alleviate pressure on the country’s embattled National Health Service.
On energy security, he said he would create “an innovative economy to create small modular reactors to power homes in a cleaner, cheaper way.”
Sunak also spoke on foreign policy, saying: “China represents the biggest threat to the UK’s economic and national security,” but the UK’s policy on Taiwan will remain intact, as the “best way to prevent aggression against Taiwan from China is by showing Russia that they will not be successful in Ukraine.”
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss clash over cost-of-living crisis in UK leadership debate
Closer to home, on the state of the UK, he said he would push on with a controversial bill that would override parts of the Northern Ireland protocol and in Scotland highlight the benefits of the union. He said we would combat the “very seductive” idea of nationalism by “speaking to people’s hearts as prime minister.”
Members of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party are currently voting to decide on their next leader, who will also become the next prime minister.
Truss is leading in internal Conservative Party membership polls by some margin, though Sunak led in the first stage of the contest with Conservative Party lawmakers.
The new leader of the Conservative Party, and in turn prime minister, will be announced on Sept. 5.
levantnews-aa
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!