Sunak tells Tory rivals inflation must be beaten before taxes can be cut

Rishi Sunak (centre) with Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen and supporters during a visit to Teesside Freeport in Redcar (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Rishi Sunak has again insisted inflation must be brought under control before the UK government can cut taxes, following a bruising clash with Tory leadership contenders Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss.

In a combative performance in the first televised debate of the contest on Friday night, the former chancellor rounded on his rivals saying proposals to raise borrowing to pay for tax cuts were a “fairytale”.