Sunak Tries To Close The Gap On Rival In PM Race

In U-Turn, Pledges Big Income Tax Cut In Next Few Years; Truss Gets A Boost With FM Nadhim Zahawi Backing Her

London: Rishi Sunak, trailing in the race to become Britain’s next PM, has vowed to slash the basic rate of income tax by 20% by 2029 in a potentially make-or-break throw of the dice by the former finance minister. Sunak, once seen as the favourite to replace Boris Johnson when he helped to steer the economy through the ravages of the Covid pandemic, has struggled against his rival, foreign secretary Liz Truss, who has pledged immediate tax cuts. Truss appears to have more momentum and has won backing from several high-profile lawmakers and cabinet ministers. Sunak’s replacement as finance minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said he was backing Truss because she offered a “booster” economic approach compared to “doomster” Sunak.