Liz Truss’s memoir stirred controversy after the Cabinet Office alleged a breach of protocol, which was yet another failure for the seemingly cursed former Prime Minister. Here’s the full story.
Guess Who’s Back
Liz Truss has a new book, “Ten Years to Save the West,” in which she blames almost everyone else in her doomed government but herself for her disastrous tenure, which saw her leave office after a record-breaking 49 days of chaos.
“Liberal Establishment”
On the press tour for the book, she has paired up with a who’s who of the American far right, promoting her belief that Western civilisation is under threat from the conspiratorially ambiguous “liberal establishment,” which she blames for the downfall of her government.
Only £1,500
However, like so many other things that Liz Truss has put her hand to, she has bungled the release of her book, for which she was paid a measly advance of only £1,500.
Without Formal Approval
Following the release of her book, Truss has found herself entangled in a protracted dispute with the Cabinet Office over their assertion that Truss violated established protocols by publishing the book without formal approval.
Disastrously Short Tenure
In her memoir, Truss candidly discusses various conversations and meetings she held with senior civil servants and the Bank of England during her disastrously short tenure.
“Pace Yourself”
The book also contains the final exchange between Truss and Queen Elizabeth II, who died only a few days into Truss’s term as Prime Minister. In it, the Queen advised Truss to “pace herself,” advice that Truss ignored almost immediately.
Candid Revelations
Due to some of Truss’s book’s remarkably candid revelations, the Cabinet Office contends that certain portions of the memoir breach the “Radcliffe Rules,” which mandate vetting former ministers’ publications to screen out any overly sensitive content.
Submitted for Review
A Cabinet Office spokesperson was similarly curt in their summary of the book’s release, stating, “This book was submitted to the Cabinet Office for review. While we would not publicise the details of any discussions, we did not agree to the final wording. So the author is in breach of the Radcliffe Rules.”
National Security Rules
In response, sources close to Truss told the Telegraph, “The Cabinet Office confirmed that Liz complied with all the rules regarding national security and relations with foreign governments.”
“Public Interest”
They continued, “She wanted to ensure that the truth was told about the mini-Budget and the role of officials and the Bank of England. She believes this is in the public interest.”
Market Turmoil
Truss’s memoir assigns blame to the Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility, which was launched under previous Conservative Chancellor George Osborne, for the market turmoil following her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-Budget announcement in September 2022.
Unceremoniously Sacked
The ensuing political and economic upheaval led Truss to first unceremoniously fire her long-time friend and Chancellor Kwarteng to stem the bleeding their mini-budget had caused.
More Market Chaos
However, this was not enough, and following more market chaos led to Truss’s resignation after the UK’s shortest tenure as Prime Minister, amid mounting pressure from Conservative MPs.
Courting Controversy
Similar to her disastrous time in office, the press tour for the release of Truss’s book has often courted controversy as she tries to ingratiate herself into the worst parts of the conspiratorial side of US politics.
Controversy at CPAC
Truss has stirred controversy with her remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the US, where she blamed her disastrous and mercifully short run as Prime Minister on obstacles she encountered within the civil service.
“Essentially Activists”
Truss stated: “People are joining the civil service who are essentially activists. They might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists, but they are now having a voice within the civil service in a way I don’t think was true 30 or 40 years ago.”
Arch-Nemesis of Democracy
Truss also shared a stage with former Trump advisor and the proudly self-proclaimed arch-nemesis of democracy Steve Bannon, who dumped Truss firmly in hot water when he declared the far right-wing agitator Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a “hero.”
Bursting into Tears
During an interview with Chopper’s Political Podcast on GB News, Truss also burst into tears about the emotional toll her premiership took on her family.
“Fallibilities of Their Parents”
Truss told the podcast host, “I think I find it hardest when it’s to do with my children. Most children find out the fallibilities of their parents over a number of years. Mine saw all of mine publicly exposed in very short order. I tell them not to read the papers.”
Strange Trajectory
The clash between Truss and the Cabinet Office is yet another chapter in the increasingly strange trajectory she’s found herself on since leaving office.
Laughable Failure
Though many in the UK may be tempted to write off Truss as a laughable failure, her pandering to the US right suggests that she may be trying to increase her influence with one of the more dangerous anti-democratic factions that have emerged in the last few years.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / lev radin.