Summary

  • Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak make their final pitches to become Conservative leader in front of party members at Wembley Arena in London

  • Truss says she will be a bold leader and create an "aspiration nation", reiterating her support for tax cuts

  • She says she will address “household support” for rising energy bills in a future “budget” or “fiscal event”

  • Sunak says he will tackle inflation "compassionately" and that it would come down quickest under his plans

  • He stresses the importance of integrity and says he wants to put "restoring trust" at the heart of his campaign

  • The two candidates face questions over the cost-of-living crisis and issues ranging from gender identity to taxation

  • At least 160,000 Conservative party members are voting for the next Tory leader - and UK prime minister - with the ballot closing at 17:00 BST on Friday

  • The UK will find out who its new prime minister will be on Monday

  1. I'm from Yorkshire and believe in value for money - Trusspublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Truss is now asked about an array of expensive items in Downing Street - including a drinks trolley and table cloths that cost into the thousands.

    Will she be keeping them?

    Truss says she's from Yorkshire and believes in "value for money" and "not buying new things if you’ve got things that are perfectly good to use".

    Secondly, she says she'll be too busy to be worrying about wallpaper.

  2. Truss asked if Trump is a friend or foepublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Asked if former US President Donald Trump is a friend or foe, Truss refuses to answer but says she will work with whoever is in the White House.

    It's a question that follows her reluctance to answer a similar question about French leader Emmanuel Macron at a hustings last week.

    The US is our closest ally, Truss says, adding her priority is to promote freedom and democracy around the world.

    She says the government needs to work with its American allies against "very severe threats we're facing, including an assertive China, belligerent Russia".

  3. There will be no new taxes - Trusspublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    "Can you say there will be no new taxes?" Ferrari asks.

    "Yes, no new taxes," Truss responds, to big cheers.

    Liz Truss and Nick FerrariImage source, Reuters
  4. Truss quizzed on energy costspublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Liz Truss says she will have a temporary moratorium on the green energy levy so people see reductions on fuel bills.

    She says she wants to increase the supply of energy to the UK.

    She says a decision should have been made on nuclear power years ago.

    Truss adds the UK should be using more of the resources in the North Sea and should begin fracking, in areas that support it.

    She says it's vital the war in Ukraine ends and that will alleviate the rising energy costs.

  5. 'Police should do the macarena in their spare time'published at 20:11 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Should police officers be doing the macarena, taking the knee or painting their finger nails, Nick Ferrari asks.

    "Their priority should be fighting crime," Liz Truss responds.

    "They can dance macarena in their spare time."

  6. Liz Truss takes questionspublished at 20:06 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Liz Truss at the hustingsImage source, Reuters

    LBC's Nick Ferrari is back on stage for a round of questions.

    He introduces Liz Truss.

    He asks Truss what she's been doing for the past five weeks to tackle issues such as rising inflation, energy bills and the NHS.

    She says she's been working as foreign secretary, and says the country is facing many issues due to the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

    Truss says she's proud of what the UK has done to help Ukraine, but the war is partly why energy prices have been so high.

  7. Candidates taking aim at Labourpublished at 20:05 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    There’s been a common theme from every speaker so far - bringing the party back together.

    As the end of this contest nears, attention appears to be turning to defeating Labour at the next election.

    There’s clearly recognition from both camps that the party needs to attack it’s opponents, and not each other, if it wants to stay in power. Regardless of who is prime minister.

  8. I won't let political correctness stand in the way of safety - Sunakpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    On crime, Sunak says he will do whatever it takes to create a safer society for his daughters to grow up in, whether that means using stop and search tactics or tackling grooming gangs.

    Sunak says he won't let "political correctness stand in the way" of keeping the country safe.

    He says his message is simple: If you break the law and come to the UK illegally, "there will be no place for you".

    He says it is the country's "fundamental right" to protect its borders.

  9. 'Maxing out the country's credit card is not right'published at 20:00 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Rishi Sunak on stage at the hustingsImage source, Reuters

    Sunak is now talking about the economy.

    He says he will tackle inflation "compassionately" and support those who need help while "safeguarding our children’s inheritance".

    "Maxing out the country credit card is not right, responsible or conservative," he says.

    Sunak points to his handling of the economy as chancellor during the pandemic.

    "You know I have the ability and experience to safely steer us through the storms ahead."

  10. Sunak praises Liz Trusspublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Sunak is praising Liz Truss as a "fantastic foreign secretary" and a "terrific ambassador for our country".

    He says the party should pay Truss "an enormous tribute" because she's a proud and passionate Conservative.

    He says when the leadership contest is over they will unite to show the Conservative party is the only party that can provide the leadership the nation needs.

  11. 'We value who you are, not what you are'published at 19:53 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Sunak says Labour must be puzzled by the fact the Conservatives are about to produce either the country's third female or first non-white prime minister.

    "We can tell them: because in our party we value who you are, not what you are," he says, to loud cheers.

    "We are not captured by identity politics."

  12. Chants for Sunakpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    A rapturous reception for Rishi Sunak as he takes to the stage. There’s a standing ovation from many, and he has to fight with those chanting his name as he tries to start speaking.

    If it was just the members in Wembley Arena voting, he’d probably be heading to Downing Street.

    But it’s not as straightforward as simply winning over this London audience. And he concedes he remains the underdog in this contest.

  13. Sunak thanks wife Akshatapublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Akshata MurthiImage source, EPA

    Sunak thanks his wife Akshata Murthy.

    He says he's grateful that "18 years ago, you chose to give up your high heels to take a chance on the short kid with a backpack".

  14. Sunak is uppublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Rishi Sunak is now up after a dramatic campaign video and cries of “Rishi, Rishi” around Wembley.

    “We should be proud to be members of our Conservative party,” he tells the crowd, to more cheers.

    He says the two people who inspired him to enter politics are in the crowd tonight - his mum and dad.

  15. Gove backs Sunakpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    David Wallace Lockhart
    Reporting from Wembley Arena

    Michael Gove takes to the stage to open for Rishi Sunak. There’s a few jokes at his own expense about his recent trip to Ibiza, and his dancing in an Aberdeen nightclub last year.

    Gove pays tribute to the man who sacked him recently - Boris Johnson - praising his policies on Brexit and Ukraine.

    That gets a huge round of applause from the audience. You have to wonder how many wish Mr Johnson was staying in Number 10.

    Though he’s backing Rishi Sunak, he says either candidate will make a great Prime Minister. But Michael Gove has previously accused Liz Truss’ tax plans of being a “holiday from reality”.

    It sounds like both camps are trying to lay the groundwork to allow the party to come together in the wake of this fractious contest.

  16. Gove tells members to unite behind next leaderpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Gove says both Sunak and Truss are talented and either of them would make a fantastic prime minister.

    "Whoever we choose as our next leader, we must unite behind them in order to defeat Labour," he says.

    Gove adds Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer should not be let "anywhere near Downing Street".

  17. I feel like I'm in Ibiza - Govepublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Tory MP and ex-minister Michael Gove is on stage now.

    He says the crowd has been "treated to some fantastic DJ-ing" and are about to "witness some great talent" on the stage.

    He says it makes him think he's back in Ibiza, but reassures the crowd he won't be dancing.

    He thanks Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his service.

  18. UK 'can't be complacent' on Ukrainepublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Truss says she's proud the UK was the first country to send weapons to Ukraine and to introduce the toughest sanctions on Russia.

    "But we can't be complacent", she adds.

    She says she wants to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the decade.

  19. Truss takes aim at Sadiq Khanpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    Truss now takes aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

    She says she'll work to "stop the antigrowth madness" of the mayor.

    She vows to tackle crime in the capital.

    "I will make sure our police are policing the streets and not policing Twitter," she says.

  20. Cheers for Trusspublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    Big cheers in the arena from Tory members as Liz Truss lists her proposed tax cuts.

    Perhaps an indication of what matters to this particular electorate. And an explanation of why she’s widely regarded as the front-runner with just two days of voting left.