Does Liz Truss believe what she's saying? | UK politics | The New Statesman podcast

Liz Truss continues to blame everyone but herself for her failed premiership.
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In case you missed it, the seven-week Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has a book out. Freddie Hayward explains on the New Statesman podcast that in it - and in the seemingly endless interviews she's been doing to promote it, she continues to blame institutions, economists and, well, everyone else, for the failings of her ill-fated leadership. But can she really believe it herself? Rachel Cunliffe believes so.
Freddie and Rachel join Anoosh Chakelian on the New Statesman podcast.
Read Rachel's article, Liz Truss is getting what she wants www.newstatesman.com/politics...
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[@alanhollands8901]

Let's be honest.She is 100% bonkers.

[@ashroskell]

She shows signs of genuinely concerning symptoms, to me. Not just that slightly malevolent but always, “out there,” thousands yard stare of hers either. In the mental hospital at which I was a guest for a few weeks, after having a breakdown some 20 years ago or so, it was always the really, “ill,” people who espoused views like, “Let’s leave the UN and the World Health organisation, coz’ they’re just conspiracies anyway. And shut down the court system so that businesses can privatise the entire legal system and policing.” And, of course, anyone who disagreed with those unhappy people were, naturally, “a part of the conspiracy.” That’s the terrifying character of modern right wingism today: making the insane mainstream can only end the way you think it will. Let us just pray that we can prize their grip free of the levers of power before the Tory civil war breaks anything unfixable.

[@amazinghangover4233]

Equals 420% barking

[@TheLucanicLord]

Or she's a better actress than Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster and Lauren Bacall rolled into one.

[@clavichord]

And I identify as an aardvark!

[@FranzBieberkopf]

An understatement.

[@brianferguson7840]

She doesn't know what she's saying. She doesn't understand what she's saying. She doesn't remember what she's saying. Nobody's interested in what she's saying.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

😂

[@grateberk6435]

Thankyou for saving me typing all that Brian.

[@matthewn1805]

And she doesn't do anything for her constituency, another MP that only cares for herself and no-one else.

[@smillner771]

@@matthewn1805 But we do have some very good MPs ...Liz Truss is truly awful but you can't tar all MPs as we should Liz Truss

[@shooglies]

Agree, but we're all going around in circles, and slagging her off is pointless. What I want to know is how has she got away it?

[@stevedavy2878]

Arrogance and ignorance are a deadly combination

[@Headwind-1]

so does that count you out then??

[@stevedavy2878]

@@Headwind-1 Would you spend more than 5 minutes in a bar or at a party listening to this woman spout her drivel ?

[@franciscouderq1100]

Just as Johnson’s but less humorous

[@gerrardtin3208]

Especially from the press.

[@user-em3vl6li5w]

Who in their right mind would vote for her? What does it say about them? Wouldn’t it be shameful?

[@Calum_S]

They'd vote for a pig if it had a blue rosette. Same goes for plenty of other constituencies too.

[@zam1007]

The majority of the Tory party/membership voted for her as the foremost among them. Let that sink in. 😮

[@gloin10]

Yes, she DOES believe what she is babbling. The fact that what she’s babbling has ZERO connection to reality is a different question. The fact that she is still electable, even in Norfolk, is a measure of just how far the UK has fallen. Pity, and gratitude to those who fought for Irish independence, are my emotions here!

[@diverguy3556]

I think she's trying the MAGA grift. It's made a lot of people very wealthy over than pond.

[@CaminoAir]

Yes, you're correct about Truss trying to crash the US speaking circuit, but almost no one knows who she is over there....even most of the organiszer's of the right-wing events she speaks at.

[@thunderslug1066]

​@@CaminoAir She doesn't even compare to Farage's clout in the US. We'll all have forgotten about her in a few years time

[@VinceLammas]

Hearing Truss talking to interviewer instantly reminds me of the way Julius Ceasar was protrayed by Kenneth Williams in "Carry on Cleo". He says " Infamy, infamy, they've all got in in for me!"

[@Hyperplaterine]

She's the perfect example of the Dunning Kruger effect.

[@ThePlayerOfGames]

The beautiful irony that the Dunning-Kruger study was actually about experts underrating themselves and not idiots overrating themselves-but the general public who are largely ignorant of the study believe a different thing 😅

[@onenote6619]

It's not whether she believes, but whether she understands. And I doubt she does. A triumph of ambition over ability.

[@Phillip_Reese]

She does not have to believe in anything, she buys everything already made and sells other people's items/opinions if it benefits her. A simple life.

[@denisewan1121]

If she temporarily thinks it will benefit her.. best she could do is get some medication. Surely she could jump the queue, or pay privately with some of those nice dollars. For her OWN good, as well as everyone elses.

[@HuplesCat]

Time will not be kind to Ms Truss

[@peterwill7116]

Nor Boris, nor May, nor Sunak… collectively I see them as killing their own party by populism.

[@m0o0n0i0r]

I dont know, look at the Uk economy under Sunak? im no liz truss fan, but when you believe in half truthes, you end up at the wrong result.

[@HuplesCat]

@@m0o0n0i0r they both suck but Sunak does the banker’s bidding?

[@m0o0n0i0r]

@@HuplesCat he sure does. Sunak worked as an analyst for the investment bank Goldman Sachs between 2001 and 2004. Interest rates should be much higher than they are now, but that would bankrupt most of his rentier chums. Truss was nieve thinking that she actually had a say, hence why the media still have the knives out for her. We cant have another Truss. You should see he speech in the USA where she talks about the leavers that she isnt allowed to pull.

[@kevinwillis6707]

😂 what sort of a plank do you have to be to re-elect that woman, she's a regular guest actor on an Alan Partridge.series...

[@googoogjoobgoogoogjoob]

Surely with a majority of 26,000, the South West Norfolk torys could attract pretty much anyone as their representative. Why would they scrape the barrel with loopy Liz?

[@SkeletonDrums1]

I'm from Suffolk, we have a well established rivalry with our brothers and sisters to the north. That said I have absolute faith in them firmly rejecting the embarrassment lettuce, even if they carry on voting blue without question.

[@georgec7899]

The Downing Street CAT would have been a better choice than TRASHY Truss

[@denisewan1121]

Let's hope her constituents have some sense. If they must choose a tory, choose a different tory.

[@denisewan1121]

​@@georgec7899No doubt Downing Street cat has more sense, and does less damage.

[@michaeladkins6]

Doesnt anybody there have mortgages?

[@philipcollins218]

It’s very difficult to treat insanity and Liz Truss as clearly slipped through the net. The poor woman needs urgent mental health care.

[@johnholkham2420]

Charity shops everywhere are strengthening the shelf’s in readiness for an influx of this book.

[@denisewan1121]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@samsteve1000]

Apparently her book has sold just over 2,000 copies!

[@johnholkham2420]

@@samsteve1000 Pulp Fiction at its best. Won’t be long and it will be recycled into cardboard

[@denisewan1121]

@@samsteve1000 She can afford it, with the money she made spouting her idea of trumpisms in the US of A.

[@Toungecat]

Truss has more in common with the aliens from 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' than any political group

[@sjt4225]

It would appear that she is not sentient.

[@musicman5075]

Yougov still has her at below 50% of the vote currently. Has to be a prime target for tactical voting in her constituency. Add that to the "Turnip Taliban" and if I were Truss I might be spending a bit less time on the book tour and more time in the constituency. But then again she clearly cannot consider she is ever doing anything wrong.

[@Grort]

It's also a seat where Reform UK might do well. So, while unlikely to lose, she does have the potential to be a very high profile scalp if the tactical voting campaign slots in, while Reform and the Turnip Taliban chew into the normal Tory voter base (presumably Reform UK outflanking her to the right, with the Turnip Taliban probably making inroads with traditional conservatives). So it could develop into a fine mess of a situation due to unusual local circumstances. Certainly, she hasn't helped protect herself from the three different directions of attack. Reform UK can credibly attack her due to her being part of several cabinets in the last decade, and use the normal wedge against the Tories that they are incapable of delivering on the Reform platform policies. The Turnip Taliban can target her being an absentee MP who doesn't necessarily represent her seat, and potentially hive off Tory voters who also don't necessarily chime with the policies she pushed in her leadership campaign, in office, or now. And then of course, her performance as PM means that she may energise tactical voters more strongly than other Tory MP's. It would be a deserving fall, and probably better for the country if she was to lose, removing her ability to influence the next Tory leadership election and the future trajectory of the party.

[@daraorourke5798]

Libdem target?

[@armageddonouttahere8972]

Jan Ravens gave the best summing up of Liz Truss I've heard (on the Paper cuts podcast).. She described her as 'part haunted doll and part little girl whose daddy has always told her how wonderful she is..'

[@robertosborne7542]

Well her Daddy isnt saying that anymore,if he ever did,as he doesnt speak to her these days so appalled is he at what she has become.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Liz Truss has PTSD and is treating it badly. This "sensible discussion" gives TOO MUCH CREDENCE to her gibberish... Thanks for the "Turnip Taliban" story 👍👍 +1.

[@baz8052]

The party picked her over sunak, shows the confidence they had in him

[@TheHesseJames]

Well, there was still one whitey left to try out.

[@beachcomber1able]

No, they just preferred an English Rose to a funny looking little Asian fellow. Racists in another word.

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

No one is asking #LizTruss to explain to us why she could not do the PM job. We already know her misadventures.

[@user-lc1wk5dh5h]

Why oh why o why is anyone taking any notice whatsoever of this destroyer of economies and spouter of ordure?

[@martinfrancis3285]

she went to CPAC!!! say no more, far right outta sight..

[@biashacker]

Never trust Liz Truss...,

[@daviddodd3301]

Liz Truss said in an interview with Nigel Garage that she didn't know about LDIs until after the market turmoil began after the mini budget. On the 'only conservatived in the room' subtitle, she said she was referring to being the only conservative in the company of Macron, Shulz, Boden and Trudeau. I enjoy your thoughtful in-depth pieces.

[@peterwill7116]

She might believe herself, but we don’t!

[@detritiv0re144]

Imagine voting for Liz Truss.

[@user-hh8hv6on1o]

Shes a gem isnt she ,yeah a little gem lettuce.

[@ErinStephanie-mf2qk]

Liz Truss. The Tracy Flick of the Conservative Party. (If anyone remembers that film)

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

Good one, hadn’t thought of that comparison. When I think of Truss because of her seat Alan Partridge usually comes to mind.

[@artois72]

Absolutely spot on! Thank you for that! Perfect. X

[@georgec7899]

With a name like Truss she will always be RIDICULED!

[@ianfraser6161]

Yes. That is why she is insane.

[@chocolatesugar4434]

The issue is some people do believe her as well!! 🤯

[@patrikfloding7985]

SW Norfolk must be weird.

[@gordonferguson4370]

Whats scary is she in America representing the uk😮

[@Pooter-it4yg]

It's a common question asked about sociopathic narcissists - do they believe their lies or are they just using them? The answer is both - the personality disorder is in large part defined by that cognitive dissonance. In fact, the psychological strain of maintaining the duality amplifies and entrenches the disorder. It's also the seat of the thinly disguised paranoia. In summary, this question is like asking why fish don't wear football boots, indicating that you don't understand the fundamental nature of fish. For more, read M Scott Peck's People of the Lie - but be sure you're ready to have the abyss gaze into you...

[@MarjorieStoker-oj8fh]

No she is flogging her book

[@alexperriman9298]

As the Tories attack working class people suffering from mental health issues, it is ironic that Truss was obviously having some sort of breakdown at the end and possibly never completely recovered? Diagnosis of what is going on in her mind is futile. Few of us would be qualified to do so. 😢

[@pallascat1743]

I dont beleive she is ignorant or stupid. She is calculating and driven by power and greed which she demonstrated with her mini budget. It made a few people very rich indeed.

[@seekingenlightenment9685]

Has Liz Truss ever met Liz Truss ? I wonder if she would distance herself from her ?

[@Auriflamme]

Is that Alan Partridge's constituency? It'd be worth a punt anyway.

[@laurav.7241]

I agree with Rachel; who are the 10% LOL. The only thing she's fit for is a straitjacket.

[@NowhereMan2710]

As a younger constituent of Truss it is enraging to know that no matter what she does the largely older, largely Tory-inclined population will elect her - it really does make you despair for democracy if a balatantly self serving, incompetent, incoherent failure like her can be in government, do what she did, and then win a seat. Yes I imagine there are may be some here that are disappointed with her total non-engagement with local issues, or her rabid liberterian outlook (rather than a cosier partnernal Toryism) but frankly the majority of voters will be barely engaged with politics, read the Mail (or similar) and vote Blue because want low taxes, a triple lock and no foreigners please.

[@gawkthimm6030]

also lying to score cash as a grifter is pretty common on the far right...

[@rorywilson656]

It doesn't matter if she does believe what she's saying, the point is that no one else does.

[@davidbrear8642]

It is human nature for us to try to justify our previous behaviour, no matter how foolish.

[@markcrocker8645]

My guess is that she was persistently bullied at school, and is now getting her own back on the world in general.

[@georgecorish4283]

Omg whwn will people cop on

[@hefeydd_]

To put it bluntly and a little crudely, Liz Truss can't scratch her own arse without guidance from an aide. She was a Liberal then became a Conservative, she was a Ramainer then became a Brexiteer and in every single position this woman held in Government she was a complete disaster and an utter failure, she shouldn't do any of the positions that she was given it's as though she can't make decisions for herself unless she has guidance from somebody else. What Truss has allegedly written in this book which as one critic quite elegantly put it was as equal to Donald Trump’s book THE ART OF A DEAL which is just a book of pure fiction and Truss’s book fits into the same category. She believes everything that she is saying in this book and the only people who will buy this are journalists and critics and the few who support Truss and that doesn't amount too much when you add them all up.

[@denisewan1121]

Might have a brief nosey in a charity shop bookshelf....

[@michaeladkins6]

@@denisewan1121 Drumpf didnt write Art of the Deal, a ghostwriter did.

[@alphadraconis9898]

Why can’t she just go away?

[@lauracartegni2753]

I was tring to remember how long ive been informed about after Boris Johson was resifning and liz truss and rishi sunak were the names that were on the public opinion , like meto hear the news .i was tring to get the sense that this discussions bring but it wasnt anything else that try to read the mind and the streghnt of thought .good to have been part of it trough a comment .

[@TesterAnimal1]

WHAT????

[@neworleans75]

She's here, she's there, she's every f@@king where, mad Mary

[@peterah7957]

She stills holds the majority in her constituency? No wonder the uk is in a dire state!

[@robhughes645]

Yup, a whole constituency in the UK still voted her as their best option. Then again, look at parliament and it's easy to see how she fits in, Britain is a nation of casual racists and bigots, that's why she has a majority.

[@nopants3560]

The fact that 19% still intend to vote Tory is beyond belief

[@Darren-pq5oc]

Why

[@denisewan1121]

Truss is only one person , thank God.

[@Hadrian363]

Any tory who tries to say we'll be worse under a labour government just remember Liz Truss.

[@denisewan1121]

I truly observe that Truss doesn't believe in anything except grabbing what she thinks are the headlines. Even a Babbling Brook serves a useful purpose, but not Ms Truss. For her own sake as well as for others' sake: if only she would shut up.

[@jonathonjubb6626]

Why is a practical billionaire in politics? Money? You think....

[@Cherrytune386]

To impress his billionaire father in law.

[@Jim90117]

If you worked in a company and that you sent not only the company into financial meltdown but the entire sector into financial meltdown, it's safe to say you'd never work in that industry ever again. Why on earth does Liz Truss have any political respect or gravitas?

[@dh1380]

Please just make her go away

[@lindaj5492]

2:45 “she is not fully Conservative” She’s actually quite dangerous in her alliances with extreme right wing American groups.

[@tonyb9560]

Sun readers will love her. Why? Because they are basically zombies.

[@surrenderfleet]

Looks like we've dodged a bullet tbh. If she's this salty about being called out, imagine the sh*t she'd stir as PM.

[@keithclinch1303]

This debt disaster woman is thoroughly demented. It good she believes in herself because 69 million Brits only see a car-crash!

[@robertstrong6798]

When Liz walks into the room they should play the Benny Hill music

[@gabel5188]

There is so much contradictions with Truss and it’s always the blame game. Only thing that concerns me is that we thought that about Borris and Trump and look at what happened. I hope history doesn’t repeat with her.

[@dansplans86]

I always come here for the news then remember that I'm in love with Freddie....

[@robynnnthegreat2185]

Excellent dissection

[@georgec7899]

Let us be Fair Truss has a record that no other PM has achieved that she was the shortest resident PM in Downing Street EVER!!

[@robhughes645]

... and she still gets an allowance of £115,000 a year for the rest of her life as a result! Must be the immigrants stealing our lunch though ... what a complete joke the UK has become in the past 20 years 😔

[@lauracartegni2753]

.I was expecting to have a more filling of souls after, I made up to the programme and enjoyed the topics and comments through the programe 5:29 5:29

[@nicks4934]

Speaking with Bannon who literally wants to end democracy!! Ffs get her out

[@michaeladkins6]

Bannon was pardoned by drump after he ran a Build a Wall scam to take money from old people. I doubt he gave the money back.

[@clivejohnson6468]

7:19 it is not contradictory, instead, it's mad!

[@caloricphlogistonandthelum4008]

The real question should be: Does she understand what she's saying?

[@denisewan1121]

Does she have a husband?

[@markzart33]

So has she "repented" of her Lib-Dem origins? Perhaps it is simply that she lacks the intellectual wherewithal to win policy arguments with senior civil servants, which causes her to lash out in frustration with accusations of "deep statism". There is a sense of tragedy in watching someone who was evidently clever enough to earn a place at Oxford flail about incoherently blaming the world and its wife (and dog) for the inevitable failure of what were deeply un-conservative tax cuts, and a belief in ever-shrinking budgets for government (see Rory Stewart's book for details of that). Surely a true Thatcherite would realize that one has to earn money before one can spend it, making her tax-cutting agenda a kind of political fecklessness comparable to the worst kind of benefit scrounger.

[@Calvin23]

Dizzie Lizzie is Comedy Gold they should make her minister without portfolio. Minister of entertainment. Her book should be called 10 years to save the West after 45 days of Liz Truss in government.

[@nicks4934]

SW Norfolk or NW Suffolk?

[@stevebailey5591]

I'd love Truss to win her seat and be the only well known Tory left with about 80 M.Ps. She'd become leader again and that would ensure the Conservatives were finished for good.

[@paulwilliams8389]

Would be great if thousands of us temporarily joined the Tory Party after the next election (and Sunak's inevitable resignation as leader) so we could vote in the leadership election for Truss to become party leader again!

[@timwoodger7896]

Sometimes evil meets stupid and they get into positions they really should not be in. It’s time she was ghosted!

[@waynewal971]

No even she is not that stupid, but she thinks the electorate are!🤷‍♂️

[@davidbell217]

They should put her on the first flight to Rwanda 😂😂😂

[@DrWrapperband]

Controlled Oppositionaratii

[@davidhoward4715]

Eh?

[@TesterAnimal1]

Take your meds.

[@kayedal-haddad9294]

She clearly never got the hint the first time round!

[@tt-ew7rx]

"Slightly strange" and "she does genuinely believe this" do not mesh well together.

[@edc8388]

Truss believes that she can be PM again, and she will get the support of the Tory faithful, thats what she thinks. The problem with that is they did elect her once before and I am pretty sure they could easily do so again, regardless of the publics perceptions of her as something very different. Boris also harbours the same misconceptions. Worrying, isnt it !

[@jtrevm]

Ms Truss is / was incompetent at being incompetent. She would abolish Magna Carta if she knew what a baron is. Unfortunately her Party is ahead of her there. They know about barons and are creating more whilst destroying M Carta.

[@jameshogben2243]

Does she say anything about Tommy Robinson in her tome?

[@ahdhudbbh]

Why is Anoosh wearing her dad's shirt?

[@markendicott6874]

She has to believe the bollocks she's spouting because nobody else on the Planet does.

[@dmisso42]

While I agree with many of the comments that say Truss is "bonkers", let's not forget that nearly 50% of Americans think that Donald (bonkers) Trump is a great guy. There are parallels.

[@petermcfarlane6749]

Who, in their right mind, would vote for the ludicrous Truss???

[@andybrice2711]

I think Liz Truss' ideas are terrible. But I do also think there was something suspicious about the reaction to the mini-budget. It did seem like a co-ordinated attempt to destroy her. Strangely reminiscent of how Jeremy Corbyn was treated.

[@andybrice2711]

It felt strangely inorganic how many organizations suddenly parroted in lock-step "LIZ TRUSS HAS CRASHED THE ECONOMY!!". The stock market is not the economy. The stock market doesn't generally crash in response to a small tax cut. And the dip seemed to be more related to interest rates. But everyone who supported Rishi Sunak took the opportunity to whip up mass hysteria rather than conduct reasonable analysis.

[@diverguy3556]

Yeah right. Increasing borrowing whilst decreasing tax intake and just hoping for the wealth to start flowing in is ridiculous. I think that was the correct reaction to such foolishness.

[@StratsRUs]

People with Mortgages roll their eyes.

[@VinceLammas]

Funny that Sunak was predicting farily accurately what would happen in the markets if she acted on her stated intentions. That market reaction was what the Conservatives would happen to the Labour Party that attempted to do too much, too quickly. There was nothing "suspicious" whatsoever!

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Corbyn and Truss ended up being disastrous for their own parties electoral performance, so they were both given the boot.

[@Andrew-dm8mk]

Blowing Smoke😂

[@billkingston4402]

Why me is the only one who believes in her delusion

[@TarlachOakleaf]

I thought Johnson was the worst PM Britain ever had..................and then Truss came along.

[@teniente_snafu]

Truss perfectly represents the Tory party.

[@johnsharman7262]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

[@za.307]

If I could pick 3 people with zero presence and charisma...talking about someone with zero charisma and presence. These 3 would be at the top of my list.

[@pranabdas8570]

At this juncture of national outcry vot ers are to be reminded Liz truss is a capable politician in comparison to Penny, Suela etc, even Rishi

[@frogandspanner]

What is the difference between the Supreme Court and the predecessor Law Lords?

[@justsayen2024]

The Supreme Court is the last word and the House of Lords is just an advisory.

[@frogandspanner]

@@justsayen2024 I meant what is the difference between the scope of the current Supreme Court and the previous Law Lords - in the days when Denning was master of the Rolls (he polished it daily for the Queen). My understanding is that the law lords were the top legal decision makers.

[@blazzz13]

@@frogandspanner One is political(House of Lords) the other (Supreme court) is an indpendent arm of the judiciary. Atleast in theory that is

[@geezerbutler4582]

The weird thing about Truss is there are trolls posting she was right and commenting on anti-Truss posts with the usual Troll type teenage boy insults. No likes paying taxes or the long term low growth : low productivity in the UK. But you actually have to have credible policies around those goals to succeed. The vast majority of people just she her as a bad joke and waste of space. But there does seem to be a well organised if not well funded campaign to keep the neo-con flag flying.

[@chriswarburtonbrown1566]

I thought the police could section someone under the mental health act if they are a clear threat to the safety of other people. Just sayin...