All of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak's worst blunders, U-turns and awkward moments so far

While millions of us wait for 0.3% of the population to select our next prime minister, each of the remaining candidates will have had moments they will want to forget.

From getting sidetracked at her campaign launch to being forced into an embarrassing flip-flop over public sector pay cuts, Liz Truss hasn't had it all her way.
>
And Rishi Sunak faced some tough questions after he tried to revitalize his campaign by cutting VAT on energy bills - just months after telling the Commons it was the wrong thing to do.

Labour strategists are going to be licking their lips at some of the statements they've seen so far.

But it's also serious business for the country, which faces a zombie government as energy bills top £4,200 a year from January.

Here are some of the most awkward, funny and upsetting moments we've seen so far in the confrontation between Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss.
Will Britons receive cost-of-living payments or not?
Liz Truss has sent confused messages about whether she will make urgent cost-of-living payments to Britons to cope with rising bills this winter.

The lead has agreed to accept up to £1200 in support, which has already been confirmed by Rishi Sunak. And she would keep an emergency budget. But what about additional cash payments?

Ms Truss has called it "Gordon Brown style" economics and wants to focus on tax cuts and the suspension of green levies, which won't do much for the poorest.

Yet she also refused to exclude cost-of-living payments, even though "I don't support them." And an ally said she would consider "targeted" aid for those who are not working or unable to work.

Ms Truss proposed a policy that would have forced thousands of people to take a pay cut (
Picture:
Tom Nicholson/REX/Shutterstock) Mix Gloucestershire and Derbyshire
Gaffe-prone Liz Truss claimed she was in Derbyshire - during an election campaign in Gloucestershire.

She told campaigners at Cheltenham Racecourse: 'We need to keep delivering the small modular nuclear reactors that we produce here in Derbyshire.

Some audience members gasped and others muttered as they digested his gaffe.

Video loading
Video...

Politics Aug 16, 2022 0 97 Add to Reading List

All of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak's worst blunders, U-turns and awkward moments so far

While millions of us wait for 0.3% of the population to select our next prime minister, each of the remaining candidates will have had moments they will want to forget.

From getting sidetracked at her campaign launch to being forced into an embarrassing flip-flop over public sector pay cuts, Liz Truss hasn't had it all her way.

And Rishi Sunak faced some tough questions after he tried to revitalize his campaign by cutting VAT on energy bills - just months after telling the Commons it was the wrong thing to do.

Labour strategists are going to be licking their lips at some of the statements they've seen so far.

But it's also serious business for the country, which faces a zombie government as energy bills top £4,200 a year from January.

Here are some of the most awkward, funny and upsetting moments we've seen so far in the confrontation between Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss.

Will Britons receive cost-of-living payments or not?

Liz Truss has sent confused messages about whether she will make urgent cost-of-living payments to Britons to cope with rising bills this winter.

The lead has agreed to accept up to £1200 in support, which has already been confirmed by Rishi Sunak. And she would keep an emergency budget. But what about additional cash payments?

Ms Truss has called it "Gordon Brown style" economics and wants to focus on tax cuts and the suspension of green levies, which won't do much for the poorest.

Yet she also refused to exclude cost-of-living payments, even though "I don't support them." And an ally said she would consider "targeted" aid for those who are not working or unable to work.