UK: Johnson loyalists call Rishi Sunak a backstabber at first hustings

UK Prime Ministerial candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the two finalists in the race to succeed Boris Johnson addressed Tory party members who will be voting in the upcoming election. The two were grilled on their policies in the first hustings, which is party's campaign event in Leeds, Northern England.

Tory members, with most of them being Johnson loyalists questioned Sunak's decision to quit as Chancellor and accused him of deceiving his former boss.

One Tory audience member called Sunak "a good salemsan" saying that many people continue to support Johnson who has delivered consistenty through treacherous waters. Another person accused the former minister of stabbing a person who made him a senior politician.

Sunak responded by saying that he was left with no choice after it had become clear that there was a major difference of opinion between him and Johnson over country's economic policy.

Acting PM Johnson had earlier appealed to the people to vote for anyone but Sunak.

Sunak who pitched himseld as the underdog in his opening speech warned that it was not responsible to "mortgage country's children and grandchildren's future to make our lives easier now", which was seen as veiled dig at his rival Truss's plans to cut taxes immediately if she becomes the prime minister.

The next hustings is scheduled for Exeter in south-west England on Monday.