IT'S breathtaking how quickly Liz Truss has become a figure of worldwide derision.
Not all that long ago she was more of a cult hit among UK political satirists - a Mr Bean-type figure not to be taken too seriously.
And while the economic chaos is genuinely terrifying for large swathes of the country, the slapstick manner in which Truss stumbled into Downing Street and sparked market madness akin to the last days of Rome is a satirist's dream.
Going straight for the jugular, The Economist, one of the most prestigious and well-respected financial publications in the world, has skewered Truss and her deputy in disaster Kwasi Kwarteng in devastating fashion.
Says it all really pic.twitter.com/VNZhy7KQXs
— David Pratt (@foreigncorr1) September 29, 2022
The magazine’s front cover shows the pair paddling on a sinking dinghy appropriately named “Great Britain”, complete with Union Jack paddle and oblivious smiles.
The image was titled “How not to run a country”.
While The Economist is no stranger to a hard-hitting partisan line, it is shocking for one so merciless to be aimed at the party which has long championed free market economics.
It is worth remembering The Economist’s barb was likely written before Truss’s car crash media round on Wednesday morning where her stuttering, ignorance on key issues and inability to directly answer a question is dominating headlines.
A particular highlight of Truss’s rabbit in the headlights act was when she didn’t even know where she had legalised fracking - amazing considering the practice has been one of her flagship policies.
The off-the-scale ineptitude has shocked even those in her party with letters of no confidence already lodged with the 1922 committee.
With the media, markets and MPs betting against her, it is surely a question of when, and not if, her ship sinks.
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