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Polls have projected foreign Secretary Liz Truss will beat former finance minister Rishi Sunak to become Britain's next prime minister
PremiumLONDON : The result of the British Conservative Party leadership contest will be announced at 1130 GMT or 5pm in India on Monday, the party said on Friday.
Polls have projected foreign Secretary Liz Truss will beat former finance minister Rishi Sunak to become Britain's next prime minister.
Voting finished Friday in the Conservative party leadership election, with Liz Truss widely expected to be named the winner next week and succeed Boris Johnson as the UK's next prime minister.
Online and postal polls of Tory members closed at 5:00 pm (1600 GMT), after a two-month contest that saw the two final contenders tour the country taking part in hustings and televised debates.
The result of the run-off between Foreign Secretary Truss and former finance minister Rishi Sunak will be announced on Monday, before the outgoing Johnson formally tenders his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II the next day.
Voting by the estimated 200,000 Conservative party members began in early August, a month after Johnson announced his resignation following a slew of scandals and resignations from his government.
Truss, 47, has consistently enjoyed overwhelming support over Sunak in polling of the members.
She has campaigned to slash taxes and prioritise economic growth above all else, just as Britain faces decades-high inflation and is tipped to enter recession later this year.
"I have a bold plan that will grow our economy and deliver higher wages, more security for families and world-class public services," Truss said in a statement, as the curtain came down on the often bitter race with her 42-year-old rival Sunak.
"If I am elected prime minister, I will never let anyone talk us down and I will do everything in my power to make sure our great nation succeeds."
Sunak has assailed Truss's plans as "reckless", warning they risk heightening inflation and eroding the country's standing in the eyes of international lenders and markets.
He has argued his experience guiding the country's finances through the pandemic leave him best placed to lead the UK during its current economic woes.
"We face huge challenges ahead, but also huge opportunities," Sunak said Friday.
"I know what it takes to get through challenging times. I did it as chancellor and I will do it again as prime minister."
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