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“I got elected in 2017, we got 13 conservatives elected in Scotland in 2017, yeah, we fell back in 2019,” he added.<\/p>\n
“But we are far and away at better in a better place than we were at any stage in 1997 and 2017 and I think that we can go on and grow that and I think Rishi Sunak is just the man to appeal to Scots.”<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak insists he has a plan to deal with the economic “headwinds” the country is facing, saying it is a matter of “when” and not “if” the tax burden starts to fall.<\/p>\n
But his successor in No 11 and leadership rival Nadhim Zahawi lashed out at Mr Sunak’s reluctance to do more now, saying it is not a “fairytale” to cut taxes to ease the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n
Boris Johnson resignation: Tories set to regret rebellion<\/h3>\n
Mr Sunak will receive heavyweight support from another ex-chancellor, Lord Lamont, who said Mr Sunak has the courage to take the “tough decisions” needed to deal with the “extremely serious” economic situation.<\/p>\n
Candidates require the support of 20 MPs in order to make the leadership contest, with nominations closing later on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
By Tuesday morning, Mr Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat look to already have the declared backers to make the threshold.<\/p>\n
Several other candidates – including Liz Truss, Mr Zahawi, Jeremy Hunt, and Kemi Badenoch – were close enough before nominations formally opened to suggest they will be in the race.<\/p>\n
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