‘Lost the plot’: Liz Truss’s constituents give damning verdict on premiership so far
Liz Truss is facing off against Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Earlier a Tory MP said the prime minister was in the last “chance saloon” as he warned she might have to soon quit.
Steve Double, who represents Newquay, made the comments in an interview this morning, becoming the sixth Conservative MP to publicly call for the prime minister to quit.
“I think her position is becoming increasingly untenable,” he told Times Radio.
“I think it’s becoming abundantly clear when you look at the loss of confidence in her as prime minister from the general public, and increasingly I think the loss of confidence in her from the parliamentary party, that we are going to get to the point where she really does have to consider her position and for the good of the country, step aside, and I think we will probably come to that place quite soon.”
Mr Double’s comments came as Ms Truss prepared for a clash with Labour leader Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions.
‘Fighter not a quitter’
Truss says she is a “fighter not a quitter” and that she has acted in the “national interest” to ensure economic stability.
She repeats her argument about delivering on energy bills and NI.
She says she will deliver on disrupting the unions and that Starmer has “no plan” and has “no alternative”.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:49
‘Fantasy economics’
Starmer says the only mandate Truss has ever had is from her MPs.
“It was a mandate built on fantasy economics,” he adds. “And it ended in disaster.”
The country has got nothing to show for it, he adds. Her “economic credibility is gone”.
“Why is she still here?” Starmer asks, pointing out that Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:46
‘He refuses to do anything’
Truss points out that Starmer has not rejected any of the U-turns made by Hunt in recent days.
She claims Starmer is “refusing to condemn” the strikes.
“We’re on the side of working people, we’re going to legislate to keep our railways open…[he refuses to do anything],” she adds.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:43
‘They put her there’
Starmer hits back saying, “she’s asking questions because we’re a government in waiting and they’re an opposition in waiting”.
He said there was no getting away from a situation where “millions” are facing rising mortgage costs.
She’s admitted its her fault, he adds.
“They put her there,” Starmer says gesturing to Conservative MPs behind Ms Truss. “They’re keeping her there…why on earth would anyone trust the Tories on the economy ever again?”
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:39
‘We’re being honest’
Truss sidesteps question, saying there needs to be “some reflection of the economy reality” from Labour.
She says the fact is that interest rates “are rising across the world” and that the economic conditions have “worsened”.
“We are being honest,” she adds. “We’re levelling with the public”.
She asks Starmer what he is going to do about train workers going on strike?
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:32
‘They crashed the economy’
Starmer says the spending cuts are on the table “for one reason only – because they crashed the economy”.
He says working people are going to have to pay “£500 more in mortgage costs” per month.
“What’s the prime minister’s response, to say she’s sorry?”
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:29
‘Spending will go up next year’
Starmer pointed out that Truss had promised no spending cuts last week, before the chancellor reversed this.
“What’s the point of a prime minister whose promises don’t even last a week?” he asks.
Truss says that spending will go up next year and the year after.
She says the Labour Party has pledged “hundreds of billions of spending pledges none of which they’ve retracted.
PM says that the opposition needs to rethink its plans.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:27
‘I had to adjust our policies’
Truss replies by saying her policy is to protect the most vulnerable for two years.
“I had to take the decision, because of the economic situation, to adjust our policies,” she says.
Truss adds that she is prepared to take “tough decisions”.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:14
‘How can she be held to account?’
Starmer hits back by saying that Truss repeatedly criticised Labout’s six-month plan.
Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, has said the government will review her two year propsal in April.
Starmer add, “how can she be held to account when she’s not in charge?”
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:12
Truss – I’ve delivered on energy bills
Truss responds by saying that, since she entered office, she has delivered the energy price guarantee.
She says she has reversed the NI increase and has taken steps to “crack down on the unions”.
She says it is a better record of action than Starmer in his two and a half years in the job.
Matt Mathers19 October 2022 12:10
Kaynak: briturkish.com