Disaster PM Liz Truss insists she’s not the worst leader the country’s ever had – claiming that dubious honour belongs to Tony Blair.
The 49-day Tory Prime Minister claimed Sir Tony did more damage than her by passing legislation like the Climate Change Act. Ms Truss, who managed to tank the economy during her short spell in charge, ruled out another leadership challenge.
In an interview with the Eastern Daily Press she was “held responsible for decisions that I had no power over” as she continued to maintain her innocence. And in a warning shot to the next Tory leader, she said she’ll be focused on “being able to say what I think” from the backbenches.
Ms Truss has been a thorn in Rishi Sunak’s side since she was ousted in October 2022. Asked if she had the worst record in recent times, she said: “The worst Prime Minister in recent years is Tony Blair who created things like the Equality Act, the Human Rights Act and the Climate Change Act.”
Ruling out another leadership charge after the General Election she said: “I have got no plans to stand – once bitten twice shy. I am very focussed on getting the best for South West Norfolk, being a backbench MP and being able to say what I think.”
It comes as Mr Sunak faces pressure to deselect Ms Truss over her appearance on a far-right conspiracy platform founded by a failed Ukip candidate who joked about raping an MP. She came under fire over her interview on Lotus Eaters – a platform set up by Benjamin after YouTube stripped him of his ability to make money from his videos.
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Labour has previously called for Ms Truss to have the Tory whip removed after her attendance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the US earlier this year. The former Tory leader later took part in an interview with Steve Bannon, who served as a senior White House aide to former Republican president Donald Trump, and she remained silent as he hailed English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson as a “hero”.
Hope Not Hate campaigns director Georgie Laming said: “It is completely irresponsible for any MP or candidate to share a platform with Lotus Eaters and their band of conspiracy theorists and far-right activists. This isn’t the first time Liz Truss has flirted with the far-right, she must be immediately suspended from the Conservative Party.”