The two Conservatives battling to become Britain's next leader have squared off for the final time in front of party members set to decide the contest, just days before the victor takes power.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is heavily tipped to win the summer-long contest to replace outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after leading rival Rishi Sunak in polls of the Tory grassroots for much of the race.
Postal and online voting by the estimated 200,000 party members, which began earlier this month, closes on Friday before the winner is announced next Monday.
The new leader then enters Downing Street the following day.
If selected, Ms Truss said she would be "focusing on energy prices for consumers, how we get the British economy going", at the last of 12 hustings held nationwide since the contest kicked off last month.
The next prime minister takes charge at a daunting moment, with Britain facing its highest inflation in 40 years as energy bills soar, and amid warnings of an imminent recession.
Ms Truss has vowed to cut taxes to spur growth, and is yet to detail how she would help Britons set to struggle with their surging bills this winter, with warnings of looming catastrophe for millions.
Former finance minister Sunak has vowed further support and said curbing inflation would be his priority, attacking Ms Truss's tax-slashing plans as reckless.
Mr Sunak struck a more conciliatory tone towards Ms Truss at this evening's hustings, held in front of thousands of Tory members packed into London's Wembley Arena, but appeared to aim a dig at the ougoing Prime Minister.
"I will lead a government that is conducted competently, that is conducted seriously, and with decency and integrity at the heart of everything that we do," he said.
"That is the change that I am going to bring. That is the prime minister that I am going to be and that is how we are going to win the next general election."
Britain must hold a general election by January 2025 at the latest, but a ballot could come sooner, with most people expecting it in 2024.
Recent polls of the wider electorate show the Conservatives face a growing challenge to retain power.
The main opposition Labour party now boasts a double-digit lead over the ruling party amid a deteriorating economic landscape.
Queen Elizabeth will meet new British PM at Balmoral
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will receive the new UK prime minister at her Scottish Balmoral retreat instead of Buckingham Palace next Tuesday due to ongoing "mobility issues", the palace has said.
It will be the first so-called "kissing of the hands" ceremony to take place away from central London since Winston Churchill met the queen at Heathrow Airport in 1952 after she came to the throne.
The 96-year-old monarch will also first receive outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the remote estate in northeast Scotland as he tenders his resignation.
Traditionally, the new prime minister arrives soon afterwards and the queen, as head of state, asks them to form a government.
The queen is on her traditional summer break in the Scottish Highlands, which usually lasts until October.
She was due to return to London to carry out the ceremony.
However, she has been dogged by mobility problems since October, when she required an overnight stay in hospital for an unspecified condition.
On medical advice, she has since cut back drastically on her public appearances, and has complained of difficulties standing and walking.
She admitted to being left "exhausted" by a bout of Covid earlier this year, and on the rare occasions she has been seen, has walked with a stick.
At the Chelsea Flower Show, she toured the site in a motorised golf cart.
The queen made two appearances at four days of public celebrations to mark her record-breaking 70 years on the throne in early June.
But even then, the effort forced her to sit out a church service commemorating her reign and a star-studded pop concert outside Buckingham Palace.
She managed though to make a final balcony appearance with her immediate successors - Prince Charles, his son William and grandson George.
Her Balmoral trip came after reports that she has had a stairlift installed at the private estate.
Earlier this month, she cancelled her traditional official "Welcome to Balmoral" and instead hosted a small private event.
Additional reporting PA
