Posted: 5:09 PM, July 11, 2022
Norfolk MP Liz Truss faces criticism for claims she used taxpayer-funded images in the video she launched her campaign to become the next British Prime Minister.
The clip was released Monday morning, when the Secretary of State announced that he would join the race to succeed Boris Johnson.
It shows Mrs. Truss, who is also the Southwest Norfolk MP, meeting a number of dignitaries from around the world, in images that were first used in videos that were thought to have been produced by U.S. officials. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and therefore funded by the taxpayer.
Questions have also been raised about the appropriateness of using government resources for a political campaign.
Chris Bryant, the Labor MP who chairs the Commons Standards Committee, said: “It is very disturbing that the Secretary of State does not seem to understand the difference between the national interest and his personal interest.
Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, said Ms. Truss “appears to have used her position solely to drive her own career.” – Credit: PA Archive / PA Images
“It’s equally disturbing that he seems to have used his office solely to advance his own career.”
The ministerial code, which provides guidelines for ministers, states: “Official facilities paid for with public funds shall be used for publicity and government advertising, but may not be used for the dissemination of material. which is essentially a political party. “
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was repeatedly approached to comment on whether Mrs Truss’s campaign team asked permission to use the clips, but the department did not respond.
Neither they nor Mrs. Truss’s office answered questions about the appropriateness of using the images in a campaign video.
Foreign Minister Liz Truss met with European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic for talks in central London on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Image date: Friday, February 11, 2022. – Credit: PA
But in comments to Sunday Times reporter Tim Shipman, Mrs Truss’s team noted that the video of Jeremy Hunt’s 2019 campaign to become party leader also had images of him meeting with officials foreigners, filmed by the foreign office.
“I don’t remember them making a fuss then,” one of them would have said.
Later, Shipman tweeted, “The permanent secretary of the foreign office has now approved Liz Truss’ release video. An ambassador of joy is guilty of the controversy.”
Mrs Truss, who represents the voters of Thetford, Downham Market and Swaffham, has served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs since September 2021, and as Secretary of International Trade before that.
He used the video to emphasize his experience on the world stage, showing it at meetings in India, the Persian Gulf and elsewhere.
Norwich North MP Chloe Smith (pictured) has backed Norfolk MP Liz Truss to become Conservative party leader – Credit: Richard Townshend Photography
The MP has so far won the support of Norwich North MP Chloe Smith in her attempt to become a leader, along with 14 other MPs.