britain's prime minister has been narrowed to two candidates, rishi sunak and liz truss. the final choice now goes to party members. the new sri lankan president has called for unity in the face of the economic meltdown in the country. also warning that he would deal firmly with what he called undemocratic efforts to topple the government. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are sonia sodha the chief lead writer for the observer and giles kenningham political commentator & former conservative party press chief. and then there were two, the i newpaper focusses on the conservative leadership contest as rishi sunak and liz truss face tory mps in the final run—off.

the penny's dropped — reads the metro as trade minister ms mordaunt is eliminated from the race. according to the daily telegraph, he foreign secretary is the frontrunner to become prime minster, the winner will be announced in september but the guardian says the tory party fears a damaging six—week battle between the two rivals. blue on blue dogfight — is it's headline. the express bids farewll to the outgoing prime minister, claiming borisjohnson took a swipe at the former chancellor nearly a million people have cancelled their subscriptions with netflix in the past three months. but the streaming giant says it had expected to lose twice that. so, let's stick it into. welcome to both. liz truss the new favour to become the prime minister. do you think so? it become the prime minister. do you think so? . . , become the prime minister. do you think so? . ., , ~ think so? it certainly looks like that at the _ think so? it certainly looks like that at the moment. _ think so? it certainly looks like that at the moment. you - think so? it certainly looks like that at the moment. you saw. think so? it certainly looks like i that at the moment. you saw her basically get the momentum in the final round, didn't win but is

certainly the favourite with tory membership. and certainly all the polls so far have shown that she would be to rishi sunak in a runoff membership. so, you know, rishi sunak steam will be looking for some kind of game changer in this moment, but tory membership quite strident in its views. soon it will have to find a way of moving the dial. now, i think there is one tv debate coming up on monday. steps rishi sunak�*s team will be pushing for a lot more, like a lot more head—to—head debates, i suspect, �*s team to be doing that too much, there are a series of hustings as well i think over the next five weeks, and i think the question for the tray party will be how can it conduct this race in a way that puts proper scrutiny and all the candidates, but they don't end up tearing themselves apart. i am certainly of the view that whoever comes through this can still beat

cara starmer. i think he should be 15-20 cara starmer. i think he should be 15—20 points ahead in the polls at this point. whoever wins this race will have two years to set out a compelling case to the public. —— kier starmer. i think it's all to pay for. they won't want more episodes like the debate on sunday night on itb which is simply as a bit of a gift to labour when you see the tory party tearing itself apart in different directions. the? the tory party tearing itself apart in different directions.— in different directions. they are cancellin: in different directions. they are cancelling the _ in different directions. they are cancelling the next _ in different directions. they are cancelling the next one, - in different directions. they are cancelling the next one, what l in different directions. they are| cancelling the next one, what is your take on the final two contenders? i your take on the final two contenders?— your take on the final two contenders? ~ , ., ~ ., , contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view — contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in _ contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in the _ contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in the paper— contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in the paper is - contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in the paper is is - contenders? i think, you know, this sort of view in the paper is is it - sort of view in the paper is is it is li2— sort of view in the paper is is it is liz truss's_ sort of view in the paper is is it is liz truss's to lose and is certainly— is liz truss's to lose and is certainly was sad, that is what the polls _ certainly was sad, that is what the polls suggest. however, the tory membership isn't, party memberships are always _ membership isn't, party memberships are always difficult to plan to get an accurate read out of. there is a good six _ an accurate read out of. there is a good six weeks to go until we find out the result during which tory

members — out the result during which tory members will be voting. so quite a lot can _ members will be voting. so quite a lot can change in that time, but i think_ lot can change in that time, but i think it's — lot can change in that time, but i think it's right that it is liz truss's_ think it's right that it is liz truss's to _ think it's right that it is liz truss's to lewis. i think the difficulty for the state conservative party is that they have been in _ conservative party is that they have been in power for almost 12 years now _ been in power for almost 12 years now they— been in power for almost 12 years now. they looked like a party that has been — now. they looked like a party that has been in — now. they looked like a party that has been in power for 12 years. you see boris— has been in power for 12 years. you see borisjohnson essentially has been in power for 12 years. you see boris johnson essentially have to resign _ see boris johnson essentially have to resign in disgrace, extraordinary circumstances with more than 50 ministers — circumstances with more than 50 ministers resigning from his government in order to try to force his resignation, a prime minister who refused to do the honourable thing _ who refused to do the honourable thing when it was found that he was fined by— thing when it was found that he was fined by police for breaking his own laws during a national emergency. and it _ laws during a national emergency. and it is _ laws during a national emergency. and it is going to be a very grim time— and it is going to be a very grim time economically, unfortunately, over the _ time economically, unfortunately, over the next 18 months to two years in the _ over the next 18 months to two years in the run-up— over the next 18 months to two years in the run—up to the next general election, which means that i think the conservatives, the problem that they were _ the conservatives, the problem that they were going to face in the next election is— they were going to face in the next election is notjust one of boris johnson — election is notjust one of boris johnson and boris johnson election is notjust one of boris johnson and borisjohnson is quite distinct— johnson and borisjohnson is quite distinct unpopularity at this stage because — distinct unpopularity at this stage because of all the scandals that

have _ because of all the scandals that have beset his government. there is also a _ have beset his government. there is also a structure issue which is around — also a structure issue which is around what's going on but the economy, _ around what's going on but the economy, the fact that the conservatives of any government for 12 years. _ conservatives of any government for 12 years, which means that actually, it does— 12 years, which means that actually, it does open— 12 years, which means that actually, it does open a big political window of opportunity for labour, and whether— of opportunity for labour, and whether the break and take advantage of it is— whether the break and take advantage of it is another question altogether.— of it is another question altogether. of it is another question altoaether. ~ . ,, ., , ., altogether. we will talk a bit more about that later. _ altogether. we will talk a bit more about that later. moving _ altogether. we will talk a bit more about that later. moving on - altogether. we will talk a bit more about that later. moving on to - altogether. we will talk a bit more about that later. moving on to the| about that later. moving on to the metro, their headline, penny is out of the race. from the get—go, the thinking was it would be rishi sunak versus liz truss. but penny was a really strong contender. do you think you did fear her more than liz truss? ., , think you did fear her more than liz truss? . , ., think you did fear her more than liz truss? . , . , ., , truss? certainly at the start penny was the one _ truss? certainly at the start penny was the one with _ truss? certainly at the start penny was the one with momentum - truss? certainly at the start penny was the one with momentum and l was the one with momentum and boiling _ was the one with momentum and polling very well for the membership. gained a polling very well for the membership. gaine polling very well for the membershi.gaine ., ., ., ., membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but — membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but then _ membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but then you _ membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but then you sigh - membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but then you sigh a - membership. gained a lot of traction with mps but then you sigh a pincerl with mps but then you sigh a pincer movement coming on herfrom different wings of the party questioning her time as a minister, how committed she was, how capable she was. i don't think it was a bolt

on the start, but it was going to be a liz truss sunak showdown. but i think penny faltered in the final stages, presently do sort of think it's right that it is a liz truss rishi sunak showdown, in the sense that liz truss has been a cabinet minister for eight years, that liz truss has been a cabinet ministerfor eight years, rishi minister for eight years, rishi sunak ministerfor eight years, rishi sunak has held the highest office in government after the prime minister. steve got two people who have been relatively tested. i did think that penny was relatively untested when it came to holding high office. a lot of complaints, moaning going on, saying she was smeared. i don't agree with that. her record was held to account. if you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen. if you are going to run for prime minister than you are going to face intense scrutiny. than you are going to face intense scrutin . g , ., ., than you are going to face intense scrutin ., , ., ., , ., ,, ., scrutiny. just going to break out there to bring _ scrutiny. just going to break out there to bring our _ scrutiny. just going to break out there to bring our viewers - scrutiny. just going to break out there to bring our viewers somei there to bring our viewers some breaking news. this is football news, if you have been watching the game, you will know that the lionesses have now one and england

have scored two against spain's one goal, which means they are now through to the euros 2022 semi final, congratulations to them. that is some great news. another euros england semifinal to come. let's carry on with the papers. let's have a look at the daily express. farewell boris, parting shot at rishi sunak and a hint of i'll be back. hostilities to, mother back to the terminator for those 80 sci—fi fans such as myself. what did you make of his last appearance at the dispatch box? he make of his last appearance at the dispatch box?— dispatch box? he 'ust can't resist it, can he? _ dispatch box? he 'ust can't resist it. can he? he — dispatch box? he just can't resist it, can he? he can't— dispatch box? he just can't resist it, can he? he can't resist- dispatch box? he just can't resist it, can he? he can't resist jokes, | it, can he? he can't resistjokes, he can't resist what's considered to be a dig _ he can't resist what's considered to be a dig at— he can't resist what's considered to be a dig at one of the two candidates, and rishi sunak, and a dil candidates, and rishi sunak, and a did about _ candidates, and rishi sunak, and a dig about the treasury there. but i think— dig about the treasury there. but i think the _ dig about the treasury there. but i think the idea that he might be back, _ think the idea that he might be back, i— think the idea that he might be back, i do think that is totally for the birds — back, i do think that is totally for the birds. you know, his popularity, his personal— the birds. you know, his popularity, his personal popularity has taken such a _ his personal popularity has taken such a hit— his personal popularity has taken such a hit over the last six months. his personal—

such a hit over the last six months. his personal brand has performed much _ his personal brand has performed much worse in the polls than the conservative party, and there is a very good — conservative party, and there is a very good reason for that. it is scandais — very good reason for that. it is scandals like party gates, questions about— scandals like party gates, questions about his _ scandals like party gates, questions about his probity, his integrity, just. _ about his probity, his integrity, just. when— about his probity, his integrity, just, when you take a step back from it, it just, when you take a step back from it. it is _ just, when you take a step back from it. it isjust_ just, when you take a step back from it, it isjust extraordinary how a prime _ it, it isjust extraordinary how a prime minister who was fined by the police _ prime minister who was fined by the poiice for— prime minister who was fined by the police for breaking laws during a national— police for breaking laws during a national emergency in order to socialise — national emergency in order to socialise. quite disgraceful, reaiiy~ — socialise. quite disgraceful, reaiiy~ i_ socialise. quite disgraceful, really. i think the idea, socialise. quite disgraceful, really. ithink the idea, i socialise. quite disgraceful, really. i think the idea, i think it is interesting, ifjournalists look back— is interesting, ifjournalists look back at— is interesting, ifjournalists look back at the 2019 election, i think we wiii— back at the 2019 election, i think we will probably think that the size of that— we will probably think that the size of that majority at the time commentators over egg to the role of borisjohnson's and a commentators over egg to the role of boris johnson's and a personal brand in that— boris johnson's and a personal brand in that and _ boris johnson's and a personal brand in that and underplayed the strength of the _ in that and underplayed the strength of the slogan of getting brexit done — of the slogan of getting brexit done i— of the slogan of getting brexit done. i think we saw his own opinion, you know, he was always kind of— opinion, you know, he was always kind of a _ opinion, you know, he was always kind of a bit— opinion, you know, he was always kind of a bit of a love—hate figure. there _ kind of a bit of a love—hate figure. there is— kind of a bit of a love—hate figure. there is always a significant chunk of the _ there is always a significant chunk of the electrics that didn't like him _ of the electrics that didn't like him his— of the electrics that didn't like him. his personal ratings have

really— him. his personal ratings have really slept. i think it is rather hopeful— really slept. i think it is rather hopeful for him to hint at a comeback, let's put it like that. what _ comeback, let's put it like that. what do — comeback, let's put it like that. what do you reckon? | comeback, let's put it like that. what do you reckon?— comeback, let's put it like that. what do you reckon? i nobody comes back and read — what do you reckon? i nobody comes back and read jay's _ what do you reckon? i nobody comes back and read jay's politics. - what do you reckon? i nobody comes back and read jay's politics. once - back and read jay's politics. once you have exited the stage, you need to leave. personally, i think for borisjohnson, his priority now will be to make a lot of money. i suspect we will see him do the circuits, write some books, do some documentaries, but, yeah, like i said, no one apart from churchill has ever come back, i think. and he won a war. i think the right thing to is once you are done to leave the stage, have some decorum and don't be one of those former pms sniping from the sidelines, it's unbecoming. i have to say tony blair is one of those people who has not taken that on board. still wants to be part of the national conversation. when it comes to people listening to him and his polling, he is terrible. in this case, you have a shelf life, leave when your time is done. you case, you have a shelf life, leave when your time is done.- case, you have a shelf life, leave when your time is done. you say no sniping. what _ when your time is done. you say no sniping, what about _ when your time is done. you say no sniping, what about a _ when your time is done. you say no sniping, what about a dig _ when your time is done. you say no sniping, what about a dig at - when your time is done. you say no sniping, what about a dig at rishi .

sniping, what about a dig at rishi sunak? ., ., ., sunak? you saw that at the end. there was _ sunak? you saw that at the end. there was a _ sunak? you saw that at the end. there was a lot _ sunak? you saw that at the end. there was a lot of _ sunak? you saw that at the end. there was a lot of animosity - sunak? you saw that at the end. - there was a lot of animosity towards the boris camp towards rishi sunak, they want anyone but you rishi sunak to win, you see that without the support supporters like jacob raise mike and nadeem dories go to war for liz truss. it will be a? for him about whether he can exit the stage, i suspect that if it is liz truss, you will probably see him disappear and go off and do something else. if it is rishi sunak, maybe you will see him sniping from the sidelines. the daily telegraph's front page, liz truss and the race for pm. rishi sunak has work to do and that he is behind. . ., sunak has work to do and that he is behind. , ., , sunak has work to do and that he is behind. , . , ., behind. yes, that is what he said in a video to his _ behind. yes, that is what he said in a video to his supporters. - behind. yes, that is what he said in a video to his supporters. i - a video to his supporters. i think when _ a video to his supporters. i think when you — a video to his supporters. i think when you take a step back from that, though _ when you take a step back from that, though it _ when you take a step back from that, though it is— when you take a step back from that, though. it is important to remember that these are two candidates who are competing for votes from we think— are competing for votes from we think it's — are competing for votes from we think it's a — are competing for votes from we think it's a tory party that hasn't actually— think it's a tory party that hasn't actually disclosed how many members

they've _ actually disclosed how many members they've got, but we think it's around 160,000 at the moment. that is a tiny— around 160,000 at the moment. that is a tiny unrepresentative sliver of the electorate. conservative members don't have _ the electorate. conservative members don't have the same demographic characteristics as the country and they don't— characteristics as the country and they don't have the same attitudes as the _ they don't have the same attitudes as the country as a whole. i think there _ as the country as a whole. i think there will— as the country as a whole. i think there will be lots of members of the public who— there will be lots of members of the public who may have perhaps tuned into some _ public who may have perhaps tuned into some of the debates over the last couple of weeks, the television debates. _ last couple of weeks, the television debates, perhaps caught a snippet or two on _ debates, perhaps caught a snippet or two on social media, on the news and while thinking on a second year, we -ot while thinking on a second year, we got a _ while thinking on a second year, we got a contest for the next prime minister. — got a contest for the next prime minister, and i didn't get a say. i think— minister, and i didn't get a say. i think it's a — minister, and i didn't get a say. i think it's a huge democratic deficit that it _ think it's a huge democratic deficit that it is _ think it's a huge democratic deficit that it is being left to what is come at _ that it is being left to what is come at the end of the day, a very small— come at the end of the day, a very small number in the grand scheme of things— small number in the grand scheme of things of— small number in the grand scheme of things of conservative party members to select _ things of conservative party members to select the next prime minister for the _ to select the next prime minister for the next two years. that's why i work _ for the next two years. that's why i work for _ for the next two years. that's why i work for the — for the next two years. that's why i work for the observer. we argue there _ work for the observer. we argue there should be a general election very soon— there should be a general election very soon after new prime ministries selected. _ very soon after new prime ministries selected, because it does leave a bil selected, because it does leave a big gaping hole otherwise in terms

of democracy. it is really why in this contest you see candidates competing for the votes of conservative members. they have been gearing _ conservative members. they have been gearing up— conservative members. they have been gearing up for this final stage of the contest rather than having the bil the contest rather than having the big conversation with voters in the country— big conversation with voters in the country about the challenges facing britain _ country about the challenges facing britain. �* . country about the challenges facing britain. �* , ., . country about the challenges facing britain. . , . . , britain. and in this article it says that rishi sunak _ britain. and in this article it says that rishi sunak says _ britain. and in this article it says that rishi sunak says he - britain. and in this article it says that rishi sunak says he is - that rishi sunak says he is softening his critique of liz truss. is that because he is worried that it is not a good look to be criticising her, that it is damaging to the party? i criticising her, that it is damaging to the party?— to the party? i suspect a bit of both. to the party? i suspect a bit of both- thev _ to the party? i suspect a bit of both. they don't _ to the party? i suspect a bit of both. they don't want - to the party? i suspect a bit of both. they don't want this - to the party? i suspect a bit of| both. they don't want this kind to the party? i suspect a bit of. both. they don't want this kind of blue on blue rivalry, because the tory party has to come back together after this and unite, also i suspect there is an of appealing to the membership and trying to be that unifying figure. obviously there is a huge swathe of membership who is still very pro—borisjohnson and think bryce johnson's astilbe prime minister, and there may be an to blame rishi sunakfor his and there may be an to blame rishi sunak for his downfall. to pick up on sonja's point there, we don't have a presidential system in this country, we have a first

pass to the post system. it was the conservative party elected, not borisjohnson. lest conservative party elected, not boris johnson. lest we forget, you know, when tony blair at left, gordon brown became prime minister and there was no general election. personally, the last thing this country needs is another election, another of uncertainty. whoever takes over will have two years within which to go forward and make their case, but i don't think they need any more uncertainty at this time. ., they need any more uncertainty at this time. . ., , this time. claiming to be the heir to margaret thatcher, _ this time. claiming to be the heir to margaret thatcher, they - this time. claiming to be the heir to margaret thatcher, they are i to margaret thatcher, they are trying to outfit after each other, aren't they? i trying to outfit after each other, aren't they?— trying to outfit after each other, aren't the ? , ., �* ~ ., aren't they? i 'ust don't think that is a itch aren't they? i 'ust don't think that is a pitch that— aren't they? i just don't think that is a pitch that would _ aren't they? i just don't think that is a pitch that would have - aren't they? i just don't think that is a pitch that would have much i is a pitch that would have much truck with — is a pitch that would have much truck with the country as a whole. it's truck with the country as a whole. it's a _ truck with the country as a whole. it's a pitch— truck with the country as a whole. it's a pitch designed for conservative members. yes, we don't live in— conservative members. yes, we don't live in a _ conservative members. yes, we don't live in a presidential system. we don't _ live in a presidential system. we don't elect — live in a presidential system. we don't elect our prime minister directly. — don't elect our prime minister directly, we live in a parliamentary svstem. _ directly, we live in a parliamentary system, and in those systems, it is much _ system, and in those systems, it is much more — system, and in those systems, it is much more optimal for mps who represent — much more optimal for mps who represent a far greater number of

voters _ represent a far greater number of voters to— represent a far greater number of voters to select the leader of their partv _ voters to select the leader of their party. i think it's actually pushing it out— party. i think it's actually pushing it out to — party. i think it's actually pushing it out to members of a political party— it out to members of a political party under a one member one vote svstem _ party under a one member one vote system that is really problematic because — system that is really problematic because the labour party membership is to the _ because the labour party membership is to the left of the country, the conservative party membership is to the right— conservative party membership is to the right of— conservative party membership is to the right of those who typically vote conservative and support the conservative party in general elections, so what happens is when it is one _ elections, so what happens is when it is one member one vote in terms of the _ it is one member one vote in terms of the ultimate say on party leadership scheme you get conservative leadership candidates being _ conservative leadership candidates being dragged to the right of where voters _ being dragged to the right of where voters are _ being dragged to the right of where voters are and in labour comments being— voters are and in labour comments being dragged to the left. it does leave _ being dragged to the left. it does leave the — being dragged to the left. it does leave the democratic deficit unfortunately, so i think we should io unfortunately, so i think we should go back— unfortunately, so i think we should go back to — unfortunately, so i think we should go back to a system where mps actuaiiv — go back to a system where mps actually get the final say. let�*s actually get the final say. let's leave the leadership _ actually get the final say. let's leave the leadership for - actually get the final say. let's leave the leadership for now. i actually get the final say. let�*s leave the leadership for now. six more joyous weeks of it. let's move on to the guardian and their headline, the race affects risk of harm from climate emergency. tell us about this story. harm from climate emergency. tell us about this story-— about this story. there is a report out saving — about this story. there is a report out saying that — about this story. there is a report out saying that some _ about this story. there is a report out saying that some of— about this story. there is a report out saying that some of the - out saying that some of the illogical changes have

disproportionately affected some of the ethnic minority communities in terms of incinerators being used and the environmental fallout to behind that, so interesting viewpoints, i have only read that the first part of the front page which has come through, but certainly a big talking points. the environment more widely been a big talking point obviously with the heatwave this week and globalwarming, but with the heatwave this week and global warming, but also there has been a view that net zero has fallen down the political agenda during the conservative campaign race. an interesting report. fiend conservative campaign race. an interesting report.— conservative campaign race. an interesting report. and says that similar inequalities _ interesting report. and says that similar inequalities visible - interesting report. and says that similar inequalities visible in - interesting report. and says that similar inequalities visible in the i similar inequalities visible in the uk were almost half of all waste burning incinerators are in areas of high populations of people of colour. ., �* . �* . high populations of people of colour. . �*, �*, , colour. that's right. it's very commonly — colour. that's right. it's very commonly understood - colour. that's right. it's very commonly understood that l colour. that's right. it's very - commonly understood that there was colour. that's right. it's very _ commonly understood that there was a disproportionate impact of the climate — disproportionate impact of the climate crisis in terms of race on a global— climate crisis in terms of race on a giobal level — climate crisis in terms of race on a global level is quite obvious really when _ global level is quite obvious really when you think about the impact that

the disproportionate