Liz Truss sparks Tory infighting after sacking MPs who didn’t back her for PM
Liz Truss is sparking a Tory civil war by sacking the Government enforcers who did not pass her loyalty test.
Tory whips in charge of Commons discipline were told at the beginning of the leadership campaign they should remain neutral during the contest.
But Ms Truss sent her henchman James Duddridge to reverse that and he pressed 11 whips to publicly support her.
The two whips who did not – Morcambe, Lancs MP David Morris, 56, and Julie Marson, 57, MP for Hertford, Herts – were sacked last week while the others kept their jobs or were promoted.
One top Tory said: “This government is becoming a cult. Everyone has to swear allegiance to the Truss. The PM is saying you’re mine now and I own you otherwise you’re out.
“That’s not the way to win the friends the PM will so desperately need.”
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PA)
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Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament ()
Of the 11, Mr Duddridge became a middle ranking minister at International Trade and Craig Whittaker was promoted to Deputy Chief Whip.
David TC Davies got the Welsh Office, Gareth Johnson was made a Justice minister, Scott Mann went to Environment and Suzanne Webb became the PM’s parliamentary secretary.
The rest kept their jobs as whips and the £18,000 salary on top of their £84,144 MP’s pay which goes with the job.
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Hertfordshire Mercury)
During the leadership campaign Ms Marson had already declared for Liz Truss rival Rishi Sunak and Mr Morris was banned from backing either candidate because he is on the Conservative Party governing board.
Tory MPs who did not support Ms Truss are furious that Sunak supporters have been frozen out of her government with the likes of former Cabinet ministers Steve Barclay, Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps now twiddling their thumbs on the backbenches.
The PM told Mr Shapps he was the Government’s best communicator but because he backed Mr Sunak “there was no room at the inn.”
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Zuma Press/PA Images)
One MP said: “Rishi has been going around apologising to all his backers for costing them their jobs.
“Even though it wasn’t his fault he feels responsible.”
Another Tory MP said: “The PM’s appointments are just embarrassing because they’re not based on merit but on being a toady
“And it will come back to bite her. She needs MPs to be united behind her and all she is doing is dividing us.”
Ms Truss began her premiership with two in three Tory MPs against her and that position has not improved.
Only 113 backed her in the final Commons run off in July compared to Mr Sunak’s 137 and 105 for Trade minister Penny Mordaunt.
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REUTERS)
Now Ms Truss is trying to woo more over to her side.
A former Cabinet minister said: “During the campaign she played the Boris Johnson successor card.
“Now she’s playing the I’m not Boris card to try to please us.”
A No10 source said: A No10 source said: “Only the Chief Whip and deputy were required to remain neutral during the campaign.”