Shoppers in Watford High Street gave their views on Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, and the “slap in the face” Conservative Party leadership contest.

The two potential prime ministers will battle it out over the coming weeks.

The former chancellor and the Foreign Secretary finished in the top two places after five rounds of voting by Tory MPs, with Penny Mordaunt eliminated from the race after a bitter contest in Westminster.

Temporary worker Matt Morrison, 27, said: “I’m quite open to be honest.

“I don’t know much about them as individuals, I mean, I hear various things about them from the news and I just hope and pray that the right person goes into the job to be prime minister.”

Retiree Jacqueline Haynes, 75, said: “Between the two, I would rather Rishi Sunak.

“I think he was doing well as the chancellor so I can’t see him doing any worse as the prime minister.”

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Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will now face a campaign to win the votes of Tory members, with the result of the contest announced on September 5.

Telecom worker Alexander Brody Raphael McClelland, 29, is a Conservative voter but not a party member.

He said: “I think it’s ridiculous that the leader of our country, that is meant to be run as a democracy, is not actually chosen by the entire populace but by just a small select few, it’s a slap in the face.”

Watford Observer: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss Picture: PARishi Sunak and Liz Truss Picture: PA Retiree Phil Hall said: “I would want Boris Johnson if he was still there, I didn’t want him to go in the first place.

“I don’t like Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss.

“I wouldn’t vote for any of them to be honest.”

Watford Observer: Left to right: Cathy Sale, Jacqueline Haynes, Matt Morrison, Alexander Brody Raphael McClelland Left to right: Cathy Sale, Jacqueline Haynes, Matt Morrison, Alexander Brody Raphael McClelland

Former teacher Angela Halpin, 58, said: “I’m not bothered because I don’t trust either of them.

“I don’t know that much about Liz Truss, but the conservatives haven’t really proven themselves in some areas recently, so a loss of faith really.”

Chef Hiren Dhameliy, 30, said he only knew Rishi Sunak through his association with his famous wife’s family in India, while others said they had never heard of either candidate.

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