What does Liz Truss need to say in her first leader’s speech at Conservative party conference? Faced with a restive party, economic turmoil and a feuding cabinet, MPs are already asking questions about how long she will last as Prime Minister. Rather than prove a celebratory moment, Truss’s first party conference as leader has been dominated by her Budget U-turn on the 45p tax rate and the threat of more rebellions to come, including on benefits (see The Spectator‘s rolling list here).
The hope among her team is that the leader’s speech will offer Truss a chance to reassure her supporters
The hope among her team is that the leader’s speech will offer Truss a chance to set out her stall and reassure supporters. She will try to explain what her brand of conservatism is about, suggesting that she shares the hopes and fears of voters. In doing so, she will highlight her energy plan. Despite having to axe one aspect of her growth plan already in the 45p tax rate, Truss will dig in when it comes to her economic vision.
Coffee House understands there are plans to talk about the ‘anti-growth coalition’. This refers to the forces she believes are responsible for a stagnant economy: opposition parties and those with vested interests. Truss will suggest that these people and groups don’t understand ambition or the problems many in the country face – in a bid to pitch her government as on their side after a very turbulent start.
There has been a frustration among those MPs who largely back Truss’s plans that she has not sufficiently explained the rationale behind policies or why politically tricky decisions are worth taking. Though Truss is regularly criticised for her media appearances, this speech offers a chance to try to fix that.
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