Rishi Sunak targeted by rival campaigns as contest for British prime minister heats up

Anyone who fails to get 30 votes on Wednesday afternoon will be eliminated from the contest

Rishi Sunak at the launch of his campaign to be Conservative Party leader and prime minister, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. Picture: PA

Rishi Sunak has been targeted by supporters of his Tory leadership rivals as the contest to become the next prime minister turned increasingly bitter with the first round of the vote looming.

The former chancellor, the frontrunner in terms of declared support from MPs, faced claims from supporters of rival Liz Truss that he implemented “economically damaging” policies while in No 11 and that his campaign has engaged in “dirty tricks” to manipulate the leadership contest.