LIZ Truss has been caught on a hot mic apologising for attacking the media during the Tory leadership hustings in Darlington.
The Foreign Secretary accused “some of the media” of attempting to “talk our country down” during the evening and accused journalists of framing questions in a “left-wing way”.
Host and journalist Tom Newton-Dunn was asking Truss about how she plans to help people tackle soaring energy bills using tax cuts, when he mentioned “your handouts” as he sought to pose a question.
Truss interrupted, saying: “They are not giveaways Tom. This is people’s money, but this is the problem with the way that every question is framed.
READ MORE: Energy crisis: Households across UK owe £1.3bn to energy supply firms
“You’re framing it in a left-wing way Tom. I’m afraid the whole media does this all the time […] it drives me mad.”
She was then asked if Boris Johnson’s downfall as Prime Minister was one of his own making or someone else’s.
Some audience members were heard shouting that it was the “media”.
Truss said: “Sounds like you’re being blamed Tom and, you know, who am I to disagree with this excellent audience?”
Asked to clarify her comments, Truss outlined how she was a “loyal Cabinet minister,” but did not directly answer the question posed to her, saying “what is done is done and we are where we are”.
Later, talking about her spending commitments, she said: “I believe in Britain, unlike some of the media who choose to talk our country down.”
Newton Dunn replied: “For the record, that’s the third time you’ve attacked the media – a lot of which supports your campaign.”
As the pair hugged at the end of the hustings, Truss was heard saying: “I am sorry I was mean about the media, Tom.”
Newton Dunn replied that the jibes made about the media were “cheap and you know it”.
Truss’s opponent in the race to become the next prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was also asked for his thoughts on Boris Johnson.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak reaffirms plan to divert cash from poor to rich areas
Sunak said that the Prime Minister’s “downfall” was “his own” fault.
The MP for Richmond also said the cross-party group of MPs due to investigate whether Johnson lied to Parliament over the partygate scandal “will make the right decision” and he would “fully support” them.
The only Conservative Party hustings in Scotland is set to take place on August 16 in Perth, where a pro-independence protest is also scheduled.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel