Prime Minister Liz Truss heckled during conference speech that warns of ‘stormy days’ ahead amid cabinet split | Politics News

Liz Truss vowed to “take Britain through the storm” and stressed “everyone will benefit” from the results of her economic policies in a keynote speech at the party conference she was criticized by lawmakers. climate activism.

Addressing Conservative Party members at the event in Birmingham, as she fought to defend her position as prime minister, the prime minister admitted that “these are stormy days”.

“In these difficult times, we need to step up,” she continued.

“I’m determined to move Britain forward, get us through the tough times and put us in a stronger position as a nation.”

Liz Truss’ speech stops on protest – Latest Politics

She continued: “Whenever there is a change there is disruption. Not everyone benefits but everyone will benefit from it.”

Ms Truss was interrupted by two Greenpeace protesters, who shouted: “Who voted for this” as they held up banners.

They were quickly removed by security in the hall.

In a tweet following the incident, Greenpeace said activists were there “to denounce the prime minister for ‘chopping up’ her party’s 2019 manifesto promises”.

The group added: “The prime minister is fighting fracturing, strong climate action and world-leading environmental protections. Who voted for this?”

Moving on, Ms Truss told the audience she and Prime Minister Kwasi Kwarteng “will closely coordinate our fiscal and monetary policy” after the government’s tax cut budget saw sterling fell to record levels.

‘Chancellor and I are in lockstep’

She has promised to “stabilize the nation’s finances” and vowed to get Britain out of “the cycle of low growth, high taxes”.

Ms Truss said she was “doing her best” to make sure everyone could get through the economic crisis.

“So let me be clear: we have your support,” the Prime Minister added.

The Conservative Party leader said she and Mr Kwarteng Turn on abolishing the 45p tax rate for the highest earners because it has “become a distraction”.

“I understood and I listened,” she told the audience.

The tax cut for the richest 1% is one of the plans announced by Mr. Kwarteng in his small budget less than two weeks ago that led to market turmoil – with the pound plunging, mortgage products being recalled and the Bank of England stepping in to rescue pension funds.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Suella Braverman accused Tory MPs of orchestrating a “coup” against the Prime Minister on a tax of 45p.

Cabinet minister Simon Clarke also publicly opposed the policy reversal.

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‘Grow, grow and develop’

Outlining her three priorities for the UK economy: “growth, growth and growth”, Ms Truss said she “will not allow the anti-growth coalition of Labor, the Lib Dems and the SNP to hold back we”.

She accused Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer of “having no long-term plan and no vision for Britain”.

Further hinting at the “disruption”, the Prime Minister also promised that her government would always be “financially responsible”.

Ms Truss received applause for saying she was the first prime minister to have a comprehensive school.

Gordon Brown went to a selective but now comprehensive state school, John Major went to a grammar school that is now comprehensive and Theresa May went to a grammar school that became comprehensive while she was there.

‘I don’t want my song used as a soundtrack for a lie’

The Prime Minister stepped onto the stage of the People’s ‘Going Up’ program M.

But one member of the ’90s dance band wasn’t happy with the song’s use, posting on social media: “I don’t want my song to turn out to be a lying soundtrack.”

Labor also pointed out that Heather Small from M People has attended Labor dinners in the past and that her son is a recently elected Labor councilor.

The first standing ovation came when Ms. Truss addressed the war in Ukraine, telling an audience of Tory members: “We’ll make sure this never happens again.”

But the speech was just over half an hour long, with no new policy announcements and no mention of interests – something the Prime Minister is facing yet another split in her cabinet.

On Tuesday, House of Representatives Leader Penny Mordaunt joined the rebels in calling for an increase in inflation-matched welfare payments, now around 10%, instead of income at 5%.

‘The status quo is not an option’

Two other cabinet ministers have also told Sky News that they believe benefits should be increased in line with inflation.

It is understood that the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, Sir Graham Brady, had warned Ms. Truss that any attempt to advance the benefits by means of average incomes rather than inflation would be unlikely. through Parliament.

But concluding her speech at her first conference as Prime Minister, Ms Truss vowed to be “on the right track” as the Conservative Party struggled internally over her policy agenda.

She urged both Tory members and MPs to “trust me to do what is necessary” to pass her “difficult but necessary” pro-growth agenda.

“The status quo is not an option. That’s why we can’t give in to diminished voices,” she said.

“We can’t give in to those who say Britain can’t grow faster. We can’t give in to those who say we can’t do better.”

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‘Reverse kamikaze budget’

Responding to the speech, Prime Minister Rachel Reeves of Labour said: “The single most important thing the prime minister can do right now to stabilize the economy is to immediately reverse the government kamikaze budget when Parliament returns. again next week.”

While the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey described the address as a “disaster for families and the economy”.

Mrs. Truss came off the stage clapping and quickly leaving the conference venue.

The British pound is under downward pressure against the US dollar after her speech.