The heat is on Tory leadership hopefuls today as they face another knockout vote after a brutal TV debate > 자유게시판

The heat is on Tory leadership hopefuls today as they face another knockout vote after a brutal TV debate.

Conservative MPs will whittle the number of candidates down from five to four in the wake of the televised showdown that saw  brand  'Socialist' for ignoring the need to balance the books, as she slated his tax hikes.

A snap poll by Opinium found that the former Chancellor emerged on top from the extraordinary blue-on-blue session on ITV, cementing his status as the front runner.

But Ms Truss seems to be gaining ground after a more assured performance, while struggles to maintain her early momentum.

is also still giving a strong showing, with MPs due to decide within days which two candidates will go forward to a ballot of party members.

Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat is the favourite to be eliminated tonight, despite polling well among floating voters with his 'clean start' pitch.

It appears that was the last time the contenders will face off - because Mr Sunak and Ms Truss have signalled they probably will not take part in the scheduled Sky News debate tomorrow night. 

The 1,000 people surveyed by Opinium found that 24 per cent thought Mr Sunak came out on top in the debate, with Mr Tugendhat second on 19 per cent, Ms Mordaunt third on 17 per cent, narrowly ahead of Ms Truss on 15 per cent and Ms Badenoch's 12 per cent.

Mr Sunak was also the choice of Tory voters, although the advantage was only 24 per cent to 21 per cent for Ms Mordaunt and 20 per cent for Ms Truss - a major improvement for the Foreign Secretary after her stuttering turn in the first debate.   

A snap poll by Opinium found that the former Chancellor emerged on top from the extraordinary blue-on-blue session on ITV, cementing his status as the front runner

Liz Truss (right) accused Rishi Sunak (left) of 'business as usual' economic management and 'choking off growth' by increasing the tax burden to the highest level in 70 years, insisting she had argued against the national insurance hike in Cabinet

Ms Mordaunt was installed as the surprise front runner, but her campaign appears to be struggling now

Mr Sunak seen in Westminster this morning as the Tory leader race takes place in the scorching weather