A Tory MP has claimed the beginning of the new Labour government has been “worse than Liz Truss’s start”.
Kevin Hollinrake’s remarks even appeared to surprise Fiona Bruce as she presented Thursday’s Question Time from Lincoln. During which, an audience member expressed his concern at a lack of stability in the new Labour government and, though Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith defended her party, Mr Hollinrake, 61, took a swipe at Labour.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “I do not take any pleasure from the fact that it has been the worst start to any government in history. I mean, it has been desperate.”
Ms Bruce injected to ask: “Worse than Liz Truss‘?” and the audience laughed. Mr Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton in North Yorkshire, replied: “I think it has been worse than Liz Truss,” to which Ms Bruce retorted: “Really?”
The defiant Tory politician said: “Yes, I really do because it is not just about the economy, it is about the piece. Listen, I don’t defend Liz Truss, I didn’t back her in the first place and we deserved to lose the last election… It is about the decline in business confidence more than anything.”
Ms Truss’s reign as leader lasted just 44 days, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history. She endured weeks of turmoil in Downing Street and furious backbench MPs expressed no confidence in 2022.
Labour has this year come under fire since it won the election in July. However, Keir Starmer on Thursday set out six tough targets to deliver on his election-winning promise to rebuild Britain.
It includes six “milestones” on slashing NHS waiting lists, building 1.5million new homes, and more bobbies on the beat in an attempt to make streets safer. It also includes a focus on raising living standards, giving children the best start in life and securing home-grown energy.
Mr Starmer told the audience at the launch of his plan: “Even the NHS losing the trust of the British public, record dissatisfaction, unable to provide the timely care and dignity that Britain relies on.”