Liz Truss has been reprimanded for being “cheap” during recent Tory leadership actions after criticizing the media several times.
The Foreign Secretary had accused “some of the media” of trying to “conjure up our country” during the event in Darlington and also accused journalists of framing questions in a “left-wing way”.
Tom Newton Dunn, a TalkTV TV presenter who chaired the event, asked the South West Norfolk MP about her plans to help people with rising energy bills through tax cuts, when he mentioned “your sheets” while trying to ask a question.
Truss interrupted and replied: “They’re not gifts, Tom. This is people’s money, but that’s the problem with the way each question is asked.”
He added: “You’re framing it in a left-wing way, Tom. I’m afraid all the media does it all the time… it drives me crazy.”
Truss was later asked if Boris Johnson’s downfall as prime minister was his own or someone else’s. Some members of the audience shouted, saying it was the “media”.
Truss said: “It looks as if they’re blaming you, Tom, and, you know, who am I to disagree with this fine public?”
When asked to clarify her view, she emphasized that she was a “loyal cabinet minister” but did not directly answer the question, saying “what’s done is done and we are where we are”.
Later, speaking about the spending commitments and his plans, Truss said: “I believe in Britain, unlike some of the media who choose to criticize our country.”
Newton Dunn responded: “For the record, this is the third time you’ve attacked the media, many of whom support your campaign.”
At the end of the debate, she was caught on a microphone apologizing to Newton Dunn, saying: “I’m sorry I was mean to the media, Tom.”
Newton Dunn responded that the jokes about the media were “cheap”.
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Last week Truss was forced to U-turn plans to cut civil service pay outside London after the proposals were met with an outcry from Tory MPs. He subsequently accused the media of misrepresenting his plans, prompting former Tory leader Mark Harper, a supporter of Rishi Sunak, to insist Truss should “stop blaming journalists”.