UK Tories vying to replace Johnson hold final hustings
The two Conservatives battling to become Britain's next leader squared off for the final time in front of party members set to decide the contest, just days before the victor takes power.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is heavily tipped to win the summer-long contest to replace outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after leading rival Rishi Sunak in polls of the Tory grassroots for much of the race.
Postal and online voting by the estimated 200,000 party members, which began earlier this month, closes on Friday before the winner is announced next week.
The new leader then enters Downing Street the following day.
If selected, Truss said she would be "focusing on energy prices for consumers, how we get the British economy going", at the last of 12 hustings held nationwide since the contest kicked off last month.
The next prime minister takes charge at a daunting moment, with Britain facing its highest inflation in 40 years as energy bills soar, and amid warnings of an imminent recession.
Truss has vowed to cut taxes to spur growth, and is yet to detail how she would help Britons set to struggle with their surging bills this winter, with warnings of looming catastrophe for millions.
Former finance minister Sunak has vowed further support and said curbing inflation would be his priority, attacking Truss's tax-slashing plans as reckless.
