Liz Truss refuses to rule out standing for Tory leadership in future

Liz Truss has refused to rule out running for leader of the Conservative Party again.

The Tory former prime minister claimed she had “unfinished business” at the top of politics, as she toured the media ahead of the publication of her book, Ten Years To Save The West.

Her tenure in Downing Street lasted just 49 days, after the mini budget, which included unfunded tax cutting measures, triggered mass market turmoil.

Asked by LBC if she would want to return to frontline politics in the event the Conservatives lose the coming general election, Ms Truss said: “I definitely have unfinished business. Definitely. And I think the Conservative Party has unfinished business.

It’s never wise to rule anything out in politics, is it?

“I think, if we’re honest with ourselves, we haven’t done enough to reverse the Blair legacy.”

Ms Truss insisted she had not written her book “to run a leadership campaign”, but wanted to build support for her political ideas.

But pressed if she would rule out standing for the Tory leadership in future, she said: “Well, it’s never wise to rule anything out in politics, is it?”

Elsewhere, Ms Truss signalled she was supportive of Donald Trump returning to the White House, suggesting it “has to be” him following the US presidential election due to take place in November.

“I don’t think (President Joe) Biden has been particularly supportive to the United Kingdom. I think he’s often on the side of the EU. And I certainly think I would like to see a new president in the White House,” she said.

Asked if she meant Mr Trump, she added: “It has to be.”

Ms Truss claimed the former president’s economic policies “were actually very effective”, adding: “This is why the US has had significantly higher economic growth than Britain. In foreign affairs, he was more effective at preventing aggressive regimes expanding and I think we’d be in a different position if he got re-elected in 2020.”

Ms Truss also said she wanted Reform Party founder and former Ukip MEP Nigel Farage to join the Conservative Party.

In an interview with the Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots programme, Ms Truss said: “I’m trying to say it’s not enough just to have the right policies on tax or the right policies on immigration or the right policies on taking on wokery.

“We’re going to have to actually change the way British Government works if we’re going to deliver conservative policies, because there has been a takeover of our institutions by the left, that is the reality of the situation.

“And that is what I’m trying to say to everybody who’s involved in politics.

“By the way, I would like Nigel Farage to join the Conservative Party.”

Labour said the prospect of Ms Truss returning as Tory leader would “send shivers down the spine of working people”.

Jonathan Ashworth, a shadow Cabinet Office minister, added: “Homeowners are still reeling after the Conservatives crashed the economy and sent mortgages rocketing by hundreds of pounds every month.

“Rishi Sunak is too weak to stand up to the reckless actions of Liz Truss and it’s working people that pay the price.

“It’s crystal clear that the British public cannot risk five more years of Conservative chaos. A vote for Labour on May 2 is the first step in a chance for change.”