Tuesday 2 August 2022 11:18 PM Liz Truss extends her poll lead over Rishi Sunak by 34 points despite public ... trends now
The Foreign Secretary has extended her lead over Rishi Sunak by 34 points despite being forced to abandon part of her planned war on Whitehall waste.
Liz Truss, who has for weeks been the favourite to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister, is supported by 60 per cent of Conservative members, a survey for The Times revealed last night.
Just 26 per cent said they were backing former chancellor Mr Sunak, who has been launching a policy blitz in a bid to catch up with his rival.
Liz Truss, who has for weeks been the favourite to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister, is supported by 60 per cent of Conservative members. Pictured: Liz Truss during her visit to Twelve Oaks Farm in Newton Abbot, Devon, as part of her leadership campaign
Just 26 per cent of Tory members said they were backing former chancellor Mr Sunak (pictured), who has been launching a policy blitz in a bid to catch up with his rival
Miss Truss bolstered her lead despite pledging on Monday night to save £8.8billion by ending the process where civil servants' pay is set nationally.
Her campaign said the introduction of regional pay boards would not only save money, by paying staff in the North or South West less than those in London, but also boost growth in areas where private firms struggle to match state wages.
But the policy was criticised by many who claimed that it would mean a pay cut for millions of public sector workers.
Tees Valley's Tory mayor Ben Houchen said: 'There is simply no way you can do this without a massive pay cut for 5.5million people including nurses, police officers and our armed forces outside London.'
The policy unravelled within a few hours yesterday morning after critics – including many in Miss Truss's own party – warned it would undermine the Tories' drive to 'level up' the country including the areas of the North and Midlands that secured the party's majority at the last election.
St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double said: 'This would be hugely damaging to public services in Cornwall where we already struggle to recruit NHS staff.
'The billions
