Rishi Sunak, frontrunner in the Tory leadership, flaunts his best pointing pose on a trip to the North East (though he might want to consider £500 Prada shoes for the site visit).
- Ex-Chancellor and top candidate in Tory leadership contest gets coveted supporter
- Sunak appeared with Teesside Mayor Ben Houchen in £500 Prada suede loafers
- He said: “The number one economic priority we face as a country is inflation.”
- Candidate No. 10 is the most popular among MPs, but faces a severe test from members
Rishi Sunak I took advantage of a visit to Teesside today to argue that again inflation must be held back before tax cuts can take place.
The ex-Chancellor, a leading contender for Tory Leader and No. 10, received coveted endorsement from Northeast Region Mayor Ben Houchen.
Standing alongside Mr Houchen in £500 brown Prada suede loafers, Sunak doubled down on his cautious remedies against the cost of living crisis.
He said: “I think the number one economic priority we face as a country is inflation.
“I want to get inflation under control because inflation makes everyone poorer.
Mr Sunak appeared with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who backed his bid for No 10
The ex-Chancellor used the visit to argue that inflation must be tackled before tax cuts are made
“If we don’t get a handle on it now, it’s going to take longer and that’s not good.
“Once we’ve done that, I’ll deliver tax cuts.”
Mr Sunak’s comments came after a pugnacious appearance last night in the leadership competition’s first-ever televised debate.
He clashed with rival frontrunners Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss, claiming his rivals’ plans to cut taxes through loans were “fairytale-like”.
Sunak wore a pair of brown suede Prada penny loafers, which can be found online for £500
It was not immediately clear what Mr. Sunak or Mr. Houchen were hinting at during the visit
Mr Sunak led the vote in the first two rounds of Tory MPs, but polls suggest he could fight Foreign Secretary Truss or Trade Secretary Mordaunt in the final Members’ runoff.
However, he insisted he remains the candidate best equipped to take on Labor in the general election.
“I will continue to plead positively for my candidacy and believe I am the best person possible to help our party defeat Keir Starmer and the Labor Party in the general election,” said the Richmond, Yorks MP.
Houchen said he supported Sunak’s campaign because of his commitment to promotion
![Houchen said: “Boris Johnson did a fantastic job at the start [levelling up] out and we can't afford to leave that behind.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/16/13/60339215-11020129-image-a-87_1657975304331.jpg)
Houchen said: “Boris Johnson did a fantastic job at the start [levelling up] out and we can’t afford to leave that behind.
“The new boss has to be able to do that. You also need to restore confidence, rebuild the economy and reunite our country and I believe I am the best place to do all of that.’
Tees Valley Tory Mayor Ben Houchen said he supports Sunak because of his commitment to the government’s improvement agenda.
Mr. Houchen celebrated the move of former resident #11’s Treasury Department to Darlington and for supporting the area with transportation investments and support for the local freeport.
Slick Rishi: The ex-Chancellor wore his signature hoodie as he prepared his budgetary notes
In February, Sunak polished up his business credentials and posed in a Stanford University sweater
He said: “What’s really important is that in this leadership competition, we have to make sure everyone who wins is committed to the Leveling Up agenda.
“Boris Johnson has done a fantastic job with the start and we cannot afford to be left behind.
“And since Rishi has been in direct contact with me and is fully committed to the leveling-up promise I made to the contenders for leadership, given what he’s also been doing on the ground, it feels for me like he’s the right man for the job.’
