Race for the UK premiership down to the final two

LONDON, July 20 Reuters-Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss made the final two candidates on Wednesday to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, kickstarting the last stage of the contest to replace Boris Johnson. 

Sunak has led in all rounds of the voting among Conservative lawmakers, but it is Truss, who seems to have gained the advantage so far among the around 200,000 members of the governing party who will ultimately choose the winner. 

Polls show Truss would beat Sunak in the party members’ contest, but all could change as the two finalists start weeks of hustings up and down the country before the party’s membership. 

Whoever triumphs when the result is announced on Sept. 5 will inherit some of the most difficult conditions in Britain in decades. Inflation is on course to hit 11% annually, growth is stalling, industrial action is on the rise and the pound is near historic lows against the dollar.