LONDON: British foreign minister Liz Truss, the front-runner to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister, was forced to backtrack on one of her most striking pledges a day after announcing it following a backlash from fellow Conservatives and opposition parties.
In the first big misstep of her campaign, Truss set out plans to save billions of pounds a year in government spending in a pledge opponents said would require cutting the pay of public sector workers, including nurses and teachers, outside of the wealthy southeast of England.
Truss had said late on Monday that she would introduce regional pay boards rather than having a national pay agreement, tailoring pay to the local cost of living.
But after criticism on Tuesday, Truss said: "I never had any intention of changing the terms and conditions of teachers and nurses. But what I want to be clear about is I will not be going ahead with the regional pay boards."
The U-turn came as opinion polls showed widely varying pictures of the extent of Truss's lead over rival Rishi Sunak.
A survey of 807 Conservative Party members by Italian data company Techne carried out July 19-27 found Truss was backed by 48%, compared with 43% for former finance minister Sunak.
By contrast, a YouGov poll for The Times newspaper, carried out from July 29 to Aug. 2, showed Truss had extended her lead. She had support from 60% of members versus 26% for Sunak, with the remainder of the 1,043 members polled either undecided or not planning to vote.
A previous YouGov poll on July 20-21 had shown a 49%-31% split in Truss's favour.
Shortly before the latest poll, the Daily Mail newspaper - one of Britain's best-selling titles, and popular among Conservative voters - said it was endorsing Truss, despite her U-turn.
"Mr Sunak is a natural technocrat, albeit a clever one; Miss Truss an authentic standard-bearer for low-tax, small-state Conservatism," the newspaper said in an editorial.
'SPEECHLESS'
Truss's public sector pay plan had faced criticism from the main opposition Labour Party and some Conservative lawmakers.
The Conservatives won the biggest majority in three decades at the 2019 national election by upending conventional British politics and winning in more industrial areas in central and northern England with a pledge to reduce regional inequalities.
One Truss-supporting Conservative lawmaker said the miscalculation would damage the rest of the campaign.
"This was a completely avoidable error, but I don't think in the end it will stop her being prime minister," he said.
Sunak supporter Ben Houchen, the Conservative mayor of Tees Valley in northeast England, said he was "speechless" at the proposal.
Millions of nurses, police officers and soldiers would have had their pay cut by 1,500 pounds ($1,830) a year, Sunak's campaign said.
Rachel Reeves, Labour's finance spokesperson, said Truss's plan would have sucked money out of local communities.
"This latest mess has exposed exactly what Liz Truss thinks of public sector workers across Britain," she said.
Sunak and Truss are competing for the votes of about 200,000 Conservative members who will select the next prime minister, with the winner announced Sept. 5.
Taxes have dominated the campaign race so far. Sunak has accused Truss of being "dishonest" with voters over her promises of immediate tax cuts, saying he would wait until inflation is under control before cutting taxes. Truss says that would push the country into recession.
Over 60% of Conservatives in the Techne poll said Truss had better ideas on tax and inflation than Sunak. They also favoured her immigration plans.
However, respondents said Sunak had better policies on Brexit and energy.
The YouGov poll showed a majority backed Truss on the cost of living, migration and defence.
John Curtice, a professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and one of Britain's leading polling experts, said it was hard to be certain the race was over for Sunak.
"In a race which certainly had seen some fairly radical and bold proposals made by both candidates ... we certainly don't know what impact if any it (has) had on the Tory membership as a whole," he told broadcaster GB News.
Reuters
Wed Aug 03 2022
![UK leadership favourite Liz Truss U-turns on pay plan in first big misstep UK leadership favourite Liz Truss U-turns on pay plan in first big misstep](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/41645457516_LizTrussBritishF.jpg)
Truss had said that she would introduce regional pay boards rather than having a national pay agreement, tailoring pay to the local cost of living. - REUTERS
AWANI 7:45 [16/07/2024] - Suspek dibawa ke lokasi | Selamat tinggal rakyat Malaysia | Harimau Malaya hilang taring?
- Polis sahkan suspek bunuh Kartini anggota polis.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
![Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/71683779541_TBNAJIBRAZAK.jpg)
Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum
Berdasarkan sistem e-filing mahkamah, rayuan itu telah ditetapkan untuk pengurusan kes pada 7 Oktober ini.
![E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721128633_MohdHidayatMohdSa.jpg)
E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi
Kerajaan juga harus wujudkan sebuah dasar yang jelas supaya kepentingan e-sukan ini mampu diperkembangkan ke masa hadapan.
![Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721122322_ZulkifliHasan.jpg)
Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism
Kerajaan sentiasa memandang serius terhadap penularan ideologi dan aliran pemikiran yang bercanggah dengan ajaran Islam seperti ideologi liberalism dan pluralism agama.
![Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710754100_MohdNazifuddinNaji.jpg)
Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM
Atlet di bawah projek Road To Gold (RTG) tidak mempunyai pilihan selain memenangi emas yang diidam-idamkan Malaysia pada Sukan Olimpik 2024 di Paris.
![KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41693913999_RubiahWang.jpg)
KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan
Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) memperuntukkan RM3.37 juta pada tahun ini bagi memastikan keterjaminan makanan negara.
![Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721021538_TBSHAMSUL.jpg)
Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia
Rang Undang-Undang Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia 2024 yang bertujuan menubuhkan MCBA diluluskan persidangan Dewan Rakyat, hari ini.
![PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024 PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710922383_MasErmieyatiSamsud.jpg)
PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024
Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) akan memulakan prosiding bagi empat isu yang dibangkitkan dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) Siri 2/2024.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini | Skandal LCS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Chong Zhemin, tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
![Kemelut ekonomi UK: Sunak yakin bentang bajet adil, bertimbang rasa 17 Nov ini Kemelut ekonomi UK: Sunak yakin bentang bajet adil, bertimbang rasa 17 Nov ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-11/51667625320_LONDON.jpg)
Kemelut ekonomi UK: Sunak yakin bentang bajet adil, bertimbang rasa 17 Nov ini
Beliau akan mendapatkan semula kepercayaan rakyat dengan berlaku jujur tentang kesulitan ekonomi yang dihadapi UK.
![Rishi Sunak ikrar pimpin Britain keluar daripada krisis ekonomi Rishi Sunak ikrar pimpin Britain keluar daripada krisis ekonomi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/61662449936_RishiSunak.jpg)
Rishi Sunak ikrar pimpin Britain keluar daripada krisis ekonomi
Sunak melantik semula Jeremy Hunt sebagai Menteri Kewangan, langkah yang disifatkan bertujuan menenangkan pasaran yang menolak rancangan ekonomi yang dibentang Liz Truss sebelum ini.
![PM UK paling muda: Siapa sebenarnya si tampan lagi berpengaruh Rishi Sunak? PM UK paling muda: Siapa sebenarnya si tampan lagi berpengaruh Rishi Sunak?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/81666333484_BRITAIN.jpg)
PM UK paling muda: Siapa sebenarnya si tampan lagi berpengaruh Rishi Sunak?
Bakal menyandang jawatan Perdana Menteri United Kingdom yang baharu, Rishi Sunak merupakan bakal Perdana Menteri UK ke-57 paling muda dan berkaliber.
![Boris Johnson kembali ke UK untuk 'kemunculan semula' Boris Johnson kembali ke UK untuk 'kemunculan semula'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/81666496085_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Boris Johnson kembali ke UK untuk 'kemunculan semula'
Johnson tidak mengulas secara terbuka mengenai tawaran bagi jawatan lamanya itu.
![Pound British catat kenaikan selepas Liz Truss umum letak jawatan PM Pound British catat kenaikan selepas Liz Truss umum letak jawatan PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/81666349528_LizTrussBritishF.jpg)
Pound British catat kenaikan selepas Liz Truss umum letak jawatan PM
Pound Britain mencatat kenaikan berbanding dolar AS selepas peletakan jawatan Liz Truss sebagai perdana menteri pada Khamis, lapor Agensi Anadolu.
![Pemilihan PM UK: Calon ganti Truss perlu 100 sokongan ahli Konservatif Pemilihan PM UK: Calon ganti Truss perlu 100 sokongan ahli Konservatif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/61666308797_HousesofParliament.jpg)
Pemilihan PM UK: Calon ganti Truss perlu 100 sokongan ahli Konservatif
Peletakan jawatan Truss sebagai Perdana Menteri mencetuskan satu lagi perlumbaan kepimpinan dalam tempoh empat bulan.
![UK perlu adakan pilihan raya awal - Sturgeon UK perlu adakan pilihan raya awal - Sturgeon](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/71666304687_NicolaSturgeon.jpg)
UK perlu adakan pilihan raya awal - Sturgeon
Dalam sistem demokrasi, rakyat perlu diberi mandat untuk memilih pemimpin, selepas pergolakan politik dan ekonomi yang berlanjutan.
![PM UK Liz Truss mohon maaf atas kesilapan PM UK Liz Truss mohon maaf atas kesilapan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/51664806638_LizTruss.jpg)
PM UK Liz Truss mohon maaf atas kesilapan
Liz Truss memohon maaf susulan pengumuman belanjawan mini baru-baru ini telah memberikan kesan kepada pasaran kewangan.
![Terdapat beberapa kesilapan mengenai pemotongan cukai - Hunt Terdapat beberapa kesilapan mengenai pemotongan cukai - Hunt](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/71665872703_TBJeremyHunt.jpg)
Terdapat beberapa kesilapan mengenai pemotongan cukai - Hunt
Jeremy Hunt memaklumkan, meskipun tidak mengundi Liz Truss, namun beliau menyokong rancangan asas untuk negara itu bagi memulihkan UK.
![Liz Truss akui terpaksa bertindak agresif, Kwarteng digantikan Jeremy Hunt Liz Truss akui terpaksa bertindak agresif, Kwarteng digantikan Jeremy Hunt](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/51664806638_LizTruss.jpg)
Liz Truss akui terpaksa bertindak agresif, Kwarteng digantikan Jeremy Hunt
Hunt merupakan individu yang dihormati dan diharap dapat menawarkan kestabilan kepada pentadbiran Truss.