Liz Truss has a four point poll lead over Keir Starmer as best PM

Poll finds Liz Truss has a four point advantage over Keir Starmer on who would be best PM as parties trade blows over cost of living crisis

Liz Truss has a four-point advantage over Keir Starmer on who would be the best PM, according to a poll.

The Tory leadership favourite was preferred to Sir Keir by 41 per cent to 37 per cent in the latest research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies.

The gap was a point bigger than earlier in the month, and contrasts with rival Rishi Sunak who trailed the Labour leader by 41 per cent to 34 per cent.

The survey was carried out on Sunday, before Sir Keir formally unveiled his £29billion plan to freeze energy bills for at least six months.

The parties have been trading blows over how to tackle the cost-of-living crisis causing misery for Britons.

Figures today showed that pay is plunging at a record rate as inflation runs rampant. 

Liz Truss was preferred to Keir Starmer by 41 per cent to 37 per cent in the latest research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies

Ms Truss (right) could be facing off against Sir Keir (left) at the next general election

The winner of the Tory leadership race will be declared on September 5, before taking over from Boris Johnson the following day.

The candidates will face off at another hustings with activists in Perth tonight as the race heads towards a climax. 

Ms Truss has vowed to hold an emergency budget within weeks if she is victorious, but allies say she will focus on cutting taxes rather than handouts to cover bills.

The Bank of England has warned that the UK is headed for recession as the standoff with Russia keeps international gas prices at eye-watering levels.

But it has been inflicting more pain by raising interest rates in order to rein in inflation. 

Sir Keir  is calling for the energy price cap to be kept at its current level of £1,971 rather than letting it rise to £3,500 as expected in the autumn, and even higher next year.

Rishi Sunak trailed the Labour leader by 41 per cent to 34 per cent in the same polling

Mr Sunak is hoping to shock Westminster and bookies by edging Ms Truss out in the Tory leadership battle 

Labour said the policy would cost £29billion, save every household around £1,000 and even cut inflation. It would be paid for by widening the scope of the windfall tax on oil and gas producers and backdating it from May to January.

But senior Tories have branded the idea unworkable as energy firms are facing higher wholesale prices and could go bust if they are not allowed to pass on costs. 

The respected IFS think-tank also raised concerns that the policy would need to be in place for at least a year, and could end up costing as much as the huge furlough scheme during Covid – around £70billion. 

It cautioned that the downward effect on inflation would be an ‘illusion’ because the level would simply surge again when the government stepped back. 

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