As the race to replace Boris Johnson continues, it is the legacy of another Conservative leader that looms over both candidates.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss has so far drawn most associations with Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister whose personality and policies defined the last quarter of 20th century Britain.
Also, professor Patrick Minford said cutting taxes is the best chance the country has of generating growth. The former key aide to Margaret Thatcher said the plan set out by Ms Truss “is the only way to secure Britain’s economic recovery”.
As you can see from some of the newspapers’ front pages this seems to be her approach.
Here is the Express today:
And this from the i newspaper.
Sunak
But it was Rishi Sunak who appeared to consciously cultivate a more direct link with Mrs Thatcher, giving a speech to the party faithful in her birthplace of Grantham, Lincolnshire, back in July.
He said what he proposes is “common-sense Thatcherism”.
Conservative former chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby said Mr Sunak was “guided by the principles of Thatcherism” in his bid to ensure the current generation “pays its own way” rather than “saddling” the next with greater debt.
Burnham
With Thatcher looming over the leadership race, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham slammed the two Tory leadership rivals and said: “more Thatcherism in the 80s got us in this mess.
“We sold off the gas, electric, water, buses and trains and now people can’t afford these essentials now.
“People are going to work but using food banks to top up their wages.
“It seems to be something that we have just accepted, but I have not accepted it.”
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Reactions
A lot of people agreed with Burnham’s comments:
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