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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Stuti Mishra,Jane Dalton and Joe Middleton

Tory leadership - live: Truss team denies Mordaunt ‘black-ops’ campaign ahead of TV debate

PA
Conservative leadership race: Who is Penny Mordaunt?

The five Tory leadership candidates have competed for MPs’ votes as they set out differing approaches to the cost-of-living crisis, the Ukraine war, restoring trust and housing.

Liz Truss vowed to axe the scheduled corporation tax hike from 19% to 25% next year in her pitch for the Tory leadership.

Penny Mordaunt called for no “mudslinging”.

Earlier, she said her leadership rivals were trying to stop her getting to the final round of the leadership contest because they fear her the most in a head-to head battle to become the next prime minister.

She told Sky News that she is “running a positive campaign” and accused her leadership rivals of conducting a “black ops” campaign that could damage the Tory party in the long term.

“People obviously are trying to stop me getting into the final because they don’t want to run against me,” she said.

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