Boris Johnson news latest: Tory leadership rivals Nadhim Zahawi and Liz Truss ‘promising fantasy tax cuts’

Nadhim Zahawi has said he would force every Government department to cut running costs by 20 per cent to fund tax cuts.

The newly-appointed Chancellor told Sky News that he managed to reduce costs at the Department for Education by close to this amount.

Robert Jenrick has defended Rishi Sunak for previously holding a US green card, which would have allowed him permanent residence in the country.

The former housing secretary said he thought it was “quite refreshing” the UK could have a prime minister who has “lived and worked around the world”, mentioning how Mr Sunak spent time in California.

He added: “I think, in fact, he will be a very positive force for the UK, if he’s elected. I think you can imagine him quite quickly establishing himself as a major figure on the international political and financial stage.”

Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick has voiced concern about promises of “fantasy tax cuts” put forward by hopefuls in the Conservative Party leadership race.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “I think there’s a risk in a leadership contest of announcing tens of billions of pounds of unfunded tax cuts, much as though we would like to see those.

“At this moment in time, the credibility of the Conservative Party is being tested – let’s be honest with ourselves – and what the public wants to see now is professionalism, seriousness of purpose and a proper plan as to how we’re going to shepherd the economy and their households through the months ahead.”

He added: “Announcing fantasy tax cuts to help get through a leadership election, I think, is unwise.”

Tom Tugendhat has said he brings “real world” experience to his Tory leadership bid.

“It’s from Afghanistan and Iraq, where I served in the military, and it’s from around the world where I’ve worked in different ways,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today show.,

“What I’m bringing here is, of course, I’m bringing the experience of foreign affairs but, as you know, we’ve been warning about the war in Ukraine and the threat of Russia since before 2018.

“What I’m bringing here is the experience of wider diplomatic and military work, but, of course, also the experience of actually having run organisations in some of the hardest places in the world.”

A Labour MP replies to Grant Shapps’ video:

Sir Keir Starmer is up in Newcastle today.

He met Northumbria’s police and crime commissioner and the city council leader this morning, ahead of a speech outlining Labour’s plan to fight the next election:

George Eustice, the environment secretary, has already said he is backing Grant Shapps for leader.

He explains why to Sky News, saying Mr Shapps has Cabinet experience, is a “very good communicator” and calling him a “good campaigner”.

“He has got all of the strengths and experience we need at this particular time,” the environment sectretary said.

And now we’ve got a campaign video from Grant Shapps. It’s pretty different from some of the other lengthier ones – such as Liz Truss’ – at just 13 seconds long.

His pitch is: “I can plan, I can communicate, I can deliver, I can campaign, I can help you win your seat.”

Liz Truss has said she is a Tory leadership candidate who can “drive change and get things done”.

She said she would be committed to “core Conservative principles” as prime minister, which she lists as:

• Low taxes
• Firm grip on spending
• Growing economy
• “Giving people the opportunity to achieve anything they want to achieve, regardless of their background”

The foreign secretary’s campaign clip – which showed her meeting officials from around the world – said the UK needed a new PM with experience who can “hit the ground running from day one”

Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has said Britain should “take advantage” of Brexit and tear up EU regulations to do new trade deals.

“There are any number of different policies and regulations that are … fixed in Brussels that can now be fixed in Westminster, that can now be changed, and we need to take advantage of that,” he told the Today programme.

“Frankly, we just haven’t yet done it.”

“Boris has quite rightly got Brexit done. What we now need to do is deliver the benefits,” the former Remainer added.

He listed changing policies in the Treasury, liberating regulatory controls, changing the way investment is done around the country and opening up the economy and trade agreements.