Six other candidates were knocked out of the race following Westminster votes and the next leader will be revealed after Conservative members have their vote.
Earlier this month, a survey from The Morning Advertiser (MA) outlined 12 possible candidates where Sunak came out top however, the ‘none of the above’ option was the most popular.
While 18% of the 115 MA readers chose Sunak and 6% preferred Truss, about a third (33%) opted for of none of the contenders.
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation more than a fortnight ago (Thursday 7 July) after more than 50 MPs resigned.
Following this, trade body UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls called for stability from the Government for the sector.
Priority focus
She tweeted: “We need clear, consistent, strategic plans to restore confidence, underpin investment and accelerate economic growth.
“Tackling the cost of doing business – key part of tackling cost of living – to and remove barriers to delivering it needs prioritising.”
However, licensees expressed a desperation for stability amid soaring operating costs, with particular focus on a reduction in VAT for the sector, no matter who is to take up position at 10 Downing Street.
Bath Pub Company managing director Joe Cussens said: “Whoever is in numbers 10 and 11, we desperately need stability and a plan to support businesses.
“[A] VAT cut would be top of my wish list, without it there’s going to be a tsunami of business failures."
Government urged
He added: “They also need to do something about the energy market, it’s ceased to function as a competitive market. Operators are being forced to agree to contracts with a gun to their head.
“Prices are up 100% to 150% and the minimum term is two years when most commentators believe prices will be lower next year.
“[They] need to fix the problem at the top before we can have any hope of meaningful solutions to the economy’s woes.”
Elsewhere in Government-related news, MP for Loughborough Jane Hunt was confirmed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, replacing Paul Scully.