Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt join Conservative Party leadership race

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The race to replace Boris Johnson has attracted two former health secretaries.

Mr Hunt said that he was the only major candidate who did not serve in Mr Johnson's government.

The tax issue has emerged as a central one in the race.

Both Mr Javid and Mr Hunt called for tax cuts.

The Chancellor and Transport Secretary promised to lower taxes, and joined them in the race.

Attorney General Suella Braverman, who called for a low-tax state, has launched a campaign.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Liz Truss will try to replace the prime minister with a pledge to reverse the health tax.

Tom Tugendhat is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace decided not to run for leader.

Mr Hunt tried to set himself apart by saying he had not defended the indefensible while on the back bench.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Hunt said he was the only major candidate who had not worked in the outgoing prime minister's government.

The runner-up to Mr Johnson said he would scrap business rates for the most deprived parts of the country for five years.

Mr Hunt said he would vote to leave if he could do it again.

Mr Hunt accused Mr Johnson of being too New Labour.

Mr Javid told the paper he wasn't sure if he would have introduced the rise in National Insurance.

He said he was not trying to do other people's jobs for them while he was in government.

The corporation tax would be cut by 1% per year.

He said he would cut fuel duty for a short time in order to help with the cost of living crisis.

The most immediate challenge for me is the cost of living. Someone with an economic plan is needed from the beginning.

After serving as health secretary, Mr Hunt became the foreign secretary for a year and then the prime minister's chief of staff.

The PM's handling of the Chris Pincher and Partygate scandals caused Mr Javid to resign as health secretary in Boris Johnson's government.

He resigned from the cabinet in February 2020 over planned reforms to the Treasury.

Mr Shapps wants to cut personal tax for the poor and give state support to businesses with high levels of energy consumption. He didn't rule out an early election.

He said he would "steady the ship and to stabilising the economy".

He said he would increase defence spending and lower taxes.