'What happened last night was not funny!' Liz Truss slams 'far-left activists' who disrupted event with 'lettuce' stunt
Rachel Reeves
PA
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has slammed activists who unveiled a banner of a lettuce behind her while she was speaking
A banner proclaiming “I crashed the economy” featuring a picture of a lettuce forced the former PM from the stage at an event in Suffolk on Tuesday night.
Speaking at Beccles Public Hall and Theatre to promote her book Ten Years to Save the West, the former prime minister was discussing her support for Donald Trump when the banner unfurled behind her.
Once Truss noticed the sign, which political campaign group Led By Donkeys took credit for, she said “that’s not funny” before picking up her papers and leaving the stage to a smattering of applause.
Truss said on social media: "What happened last night was not funny. Far-left activists disrupted the event, which then had to be stopped for security reasons. This is done to intimidate people and suppress free speech. I won't stand for it. Would we see the same reaction if the activists were far-right?"
Ben Stewart, co-founder of Led By Donkeys, who attended the event on Tuesday, said: “This is all about Liz Truss aligning herself with Trump and the far right in America.”
He said: “She’s avidly supporting Trump, and actually she’s lending the weight of the office of British Prime Minister which she held, albeit for a short period of time, to the pro-Trump campaign.
“We thought, she’s aligning herself with the far right in America, and sometimes, not always, but sometimes, one of the best approaches to the far right is to laugh at them. And so we decided to install this strategically positioned remote control lettuce banner and press the button towards the end of last night’s event."
Truss only lasted 44 days as leader of the country – she famously was outlasted by a lettuce that was recorded on a live stream, created by the Daily Star, which asked: “Which wet lettuce will last longer?” referring to the Prime Minister and an actual lettuce.
Earlier this year, Truss lost her South West Norfolk seat by just 630 votes, overturning her majority of more than 26,000 at the 2019 General Election.
Jess Phillips admits 'mistake' over controversial rioting tweet
Jess Phillips MP
PA
The Birmingham Yardley MP has admitted she made a "mistake" with how she phrased a social media post about masked men confronting a journalist during the riots last week.
Footage from Sky News showed one of the broadcaster’s reporters being approached by hooded and masked men in Ms Phillips’ Birmingham Yardley constituency during a period of disorder in the city.
At the time of the video being released, the Home Office minister responded to a post on social media by Reform UK MP Richard Tice which suggested what he called “pro Gaza masked folk” in the video were subject to a different standard of policing than the rioters.
She responded saying: "These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them This misinformation was spread entirely to create this content. Don’t spread it Mr Tice!"
Asked about her remarks on , she is reported by broadcasters to have said: “I think I almost certainly could have phrased it better.”
Phillips added she was "explaining why those people have gone” in her post, adding: "That’s because of a campaign of misinformation about far-right protests.”
The minister also said: "Of course I would choose my words more carefully. I’m more than happy to say that when I make a mistake, absolutely."
Government promises ‘new era’ after fresh talks with unions and businesses
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds
PA
Angela Rayner has hailed a “new era of partnership” after a landmark meeting between the Government, businesses and trade unions on Wednesday.
The meeting, hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, follows Labour’s manifesto commitment to work with both businesses and unions in an effort to kick start economic growth.
Described as the “first of its kind”, the meeting saw participants promise to “wipe the slate clean and begin a new relationship of respect and collaboration”, according to the Department of Business and Trade.
Top of the agenda were the Government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill, slated to be introduced within the first 100 days of the new administration, and a wider plan to "make work pay>"
First Minister Swinney defends government meeting with Israeli diplomat
Scotland’s First Minister has said a meeting between a senior figure in his Government and Israel’s deputy ambassador was "necessary."
After criticism from the Scottish Greens that discussions between Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Daniela Grudsky were “shameful”, John Swinney said the talks gave his Government the chance to press the need for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
The SNP leader intervened after Green MSP Ross Greer accused his Government of adopting a "two-faced approach."
Greer said of the SNP: "They publicly condemn Israel’s war crimes whilst holding secret meetings with its representatives to discuss so-called ‘mutual interests’."
Swinney said Robertson had pressed Grudsky on "the killing and suffering of innocent civilians."
In a series of posts on social media, he said: “As First Minister and SNP leader, I will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an end to UK arms being sent to Israel, and the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution.”
Labour 'failed' to tell watchdog about Treasury chief's £20,000 donations
General view of the entrance to the HM Treasury building,PALabour failed to tell the civil service watchdog about a top Treasury official's decision to hand over more than £20,000 in donations before entering No11, it has been claimed.
Ian Corfield was appointed as director of investment last month after working as a senior business adviser to the Labour Party since the start of 2024.
Corfield coughed up £5,000 to Rachel Reeves in August 2023 and previously donated to Rebecca Long-Bailey. Two sources told Politico on Wednesday that the watchdog had not been informed of Corfield’s past financial support for Labour politicians, including Reeves.
Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith told The Telegraph: "The public deserves answers on these appointments before Labour hands more plum senior civil service jobs to donors.
"It shouldn’t take two weeks to get clarity from the Cabinet Office and it raises the worrying prospect that they themselves were kept in the dark or are being muzzled on this emerging scandal."
Nigel Farage BANNED from Tory Party as all six leadership candidates vow to refuse entry
Nigel Farage will be banned from the Conservative party no matter who replaces Rishi Sunak as leader, it has emerged.
Mel Stride today confirmed that he would not allow Nigel Farage to sit on the Conservative benches in the Commons.
This means that all of the six candidates to replace Rishi Sunak as leader have turned their faces against working closely with Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party.
The position is in contrast to Sunak who twice told GB News last year - at the party's conference in October and on a trip to a climate change summit in December - that Farage could join the party, saying it was a "broad church".
Ex-Tory deputy PM applied for top Labour Treasury role
Ex-Tory deputy PM applied for top Labour Treasury rolePAA former Tory deputy Prime Minister who was defeated by a Labour candidate in her ex-Suffolk constituency has since applied for a senior Labour Treasury role.
Therese Coffey, who lost to Jenny Riddell-Carpenter by just 1,070 votes in Suffolk Coastal, tried to become the UK director at the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD).
The position is considered a director-level role at the Treasury, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves deciding who is appointed.
It also comes with a cushy £183,400 annual salary, roughly double an MP's income.
Coffey, who served as Liz Truss' deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary, told The Telegraph: “It was an interesting role. I thought I would apply given my experience in Government on international work. I have dealt with these sorts of banks before.”
Ex-Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke voiced concern about the report.
Clarke, who lost Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland by just 214 votes, said: "It really don't know what is going on here.
"But it reflects very poorly either on someone at a department I love and respect, the Treasury (which I strongly doubt) or on whoever in the Government has briefed this out."
'That's not funny!' Liz Truss storms off stage as ex-PM's event interrupted by 'lettuce' prank
Liz Truss stormed off stage last night as the former Prime Minister’s book promotion event was interrupted by pranksters unfurling a brutal lettuce banner.
Truss, who lost her South West Norfolk seat to Labour by just 630 votes, was voicing support for Donald Trump when the stunt unfolded.
Keir Starmer 'can't be relied on' to carry out election pledges - Olivia Utley
Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire over his promises to increase the UK's defence spending, as the Prime Minister could be set to increase taxes and cut "millions" from the defence budget.
The Government is thought to be planning to cut the science and research budget for the armed forces, halting the proposed modernisation of the defence industry as global tensions continue to increase.
REVEALED: The 120 Labour MPs determined to REVERSE Brexit by dragging UK closer to EU
Almost 50 newly-elected Labour MPs have signed up to a backbench group vowing to “expose” Brexit and secure “our nation’s future in Europe”, GB News can reveal.
In a new investigation, some 47 Labour MPs have given their backing to a bid which could see Britain edge ever closer to Brussels and even reverse Brexit.
The group of new MPs join an established membership of another 80 Labour colleagues, will look to steer the Government closer towards Europe.
Staggeringly 29 of the 47 Labour MPs represent Brexit-backing constituencies, including Harlow’s Chris Vince and Folkestone & Hythe’s Tony Vaughan.
Nigel Farage's Southport comments put riot police in danger, says Tory hopeful Mel Stride
Mel Stride appeared on Chopper's Political PodcastGB NewsNigel Farage's comments about the Southport attacker put police officers in danger because they contributed to the riots, one of the contenders to be the next Conservative leader has said.
Mel Stride ruled out any deal with Farage to restore his party's fortunes after last month's election landslide.
Stride also said that if he were to replace Rishi Sunak as party leader he would commit to cutting net immigration to tens of thousands of people a year.
Farage was criticised for a post on his X account in the aftermath of the killings of three young children in Southport and before riots stared, when he questioning the accuracy of the police's assessment that the attack was not terror related.
Hunt slams Reeves after inflation rise - 'Excuses!'
Jeremy HuntGB NewsJeremy Hunt has slammed Chancellor Rachel Reeves after inflation creeped up to 2.2 per cent.
The Shadow Chancellor, who left No11 as Labour romped to victory last month, claimed any tax hikes had been “planned all along”.
He added: “Today’s figures show how important it is that the new Labour government follows the path of the previous Conservative Government and focus on keeping inflation low.
“In Government, we took the difficult decisions to reduce inflation from 11.1 percent to the Bank of England’s target of 2 percent – paving the way for the first interest rate cut in four years. However, there is clearly more to be done to keep inflation down.
“The Chancellor must not use this data as an excuse to break her promises and hike up taxes. Tax rises she had planned all along.”