Priti Patel, a former home secretary, today urged the Conservatives not to remove Liz Truss and to steer clear of another “divisive” leadership contest.
In an address at the Conservative convention in Birmingham, the former cabinet minister urged her party to “stay together” and “rally behind the leadership.”
Her involvement comes after Ms. Truss’s term as prime minister got off to a rocky start, which included a U-turn on her mini-Budget and a flurry of infighting between MPs and ministers.
Ms. Patel reminded her fellow Conservatives that they had “a responsibility to serve our nation” and that “being in government” was “a pleasure.”
At the Birmingham conference, Ms. Patel did launch a new jab at Ms. Truss’s unfunded tax cuts, despite her call for unity.
Following instability on the financial markets following last month’s mini-Budget, she cautioned both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng that the Tories’ ability to manage the economy would determine whether they “lived or died.”
Ms. Patel was asked if the PM should be removed at a fringe event because Tory discipline was on the verge of collapsing around Ms. Truss during her maiden party conference as leader.
After her address at a fringe event, she told a party member, “We’ve just done that, my friend, we’ve just done all of that, and I believe nothing would be more damaging for the party and the nation.”
“I want us to be a prosperous, electorally successful party.”
“We have to do it, we really have to. We are stronger together and unified, and we will triumph by totally staying together.”
Ms. Patel continued with: “My message is very plain and very straightforward; we have a responsibility to serve our nation and serve it well as proud Conservatives, we truly do.” This was followed by another call for Tory unity.
“Being in government is a luxury. Our role is to deliver on our agenda, to deliver on the objectives of the people, and to simply support the leadership of our party.”
However, even though Ms Truss’ leadership had gained support from the Tories, Ms Patel did criticize the PM’s economic proposals.
In her address, she declared: “We are spending today without considering tomorrow, and like the Blob in the classic horror movie, the more resources are used today, the greater the issue becomes and the more resources it will need to devour tomorrow.
“Right now, we have developed a habit of borrowing enormous sums of money to solve immediate issues or create momentary populist headlines. There always appears to be a good argument, but what does this imply for the next generation?
“I want to see our party restore its credibility by renewing its commitment to sustainable public expenditure that is affordable now, tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future,” the candidate said.
The image of the Tories for handling the public purse will determine whether they survive, said Ms. Patel.
Ms. Truss and Mr. Kwarteng were today dealing with a new uprising after a heated argument about the PM and Chancellor’s proposals to eliminate the 45p tax rate for the top incomes, which they have since abandoned.
By raising benefits in real terms rather than inflation next year, the PM plans to defy dozens of Conservative MPs.
She will claim that giving employees more than they now get would be unjust and that doing so would save the government almost £7 billion.
However, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, who competed with Ms Truss for the leadership last summer, told Times Radio that raising benefits to keep up with inflation “makes sense.” We want to make sure that folks are taken care of and that they can pay their expenses, she added.
We don’t believe in attempting to give someone something while simultaneously taking something away.
One Cabinet member asked: “Who has been briefing this stuff?” to MailOnline. Will we really carry it out? I fail to see how that could possibly take place.
Even though I am a fiscal hawk, I don’t believe you can maintain benefits low. Benefits would be worse if there wasn’t already enough contention about the highest tax rate.
Chloe Smith, the secretary for work and pensions, is said to have serious reservations about the proposals.
She said at a conference yesterday, “We recognize that individuals are dealing with some of the growing prices.”
Protecting the most vulnerable is a top priority for me and my government because of this.
Because of the size of the opposition, there will be worries that the premier may be compelled to do another U-turn, further damaging her image for being decisive. The new surveys, which show Labour with a startling 28-point lead, suggest that the market meltdown has caused the Tories’ popularity to plummet.
Traders cheered the news that Mr. Kwarteng would provide his promised fiscal statement outlining how he will balance the books – and critically, the OBR watchdog’s assessment of the finances – from November 23. This news caused the pound to rise close to $1.14 this morning.
After significant pressure from lawmakers and economists, the event is now scheduled to take place this month, before to the next Bank of England meeting to discuss interest rates.
The abrupt move on the highest rate of tax, which is remaining despite the vehement insistence of both Ms. Truss and Ms. Kwarteng that it would be eliminated until yesterday, comes on top of the 180-degree turn.
Ms. Truss said in interviews that were pre-recorded on Sunday and aired this morning that “decisions will need to be made” over how to reduce debt as a percentage of GDP in the medium run.
I’m absolutely devoted to helping the most disadvantaged; in fact, we’re giving the poorest families an additional £1,200 in addition to the energy price guarantee.
As a result, “we must consider these concerns holistically and exercise budgetary responsibility.”
No decision has yet been made about benefit increases, she said on LBC radio, adding that one “will be taken in due time.”
When questioned about why she pledges to raising pensions but not benefits, she gave even more ominous indications. “What I mean is that those who are on fixed incomes, like elderly, find it difficult to change,” she said.
“I believe that for those who are in a position to be able to work, the situation is different.”