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Sunak unconcerned after Truss attracts crowds at Tory conference

The former prime minister was greeted by lengthy queues when she appeared in Manchester on Monday.

Dominic McGrath
Tuesday 03 October 2023 03:44 EDT
Former prime minister Liz Truss leaves the Great British Growth Rally on Monday (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Former prime minister Liz Truss leaves the Great British Growth Rally on Monday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)

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Rishi Sunak has brushed off questions about his predecessor Liz Truss stealing the limelight at the Conservative party conference.

The short-lived prime minister, whose fall from office paved the way for Mr Sunak to enter Number 10, was greeted by lengthy queues when she appeared in Manchester on Monday to call for tax cuts to ā€œmake Britain grow againā€.

The Truss-aligned Conservative Growth Group is said to have the support of 60 MPs, a sizeable chunk of the parliamentary party and enough to threaten Mr Sunakā€™s majority in the Commons.

Ms Truss has not been shy about calling for the Government to change course in a bid to boost growth, urging Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut corporation tax to at least 19% and to slash Government spending.

But Mr Sunak appeared unconcerned on Tuesday about the apparent popularity of his former leadership rival.

Asked on Times Radio if it worried him, he said: ā€œNo, not at all.

ā€œLots of Conservatives here. I think the mood is great.

ā€œPeople are excited about the things weā€™re doing.ā€

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