'Too busy': Liz Truss cancels only Tory leadership race TV interview

Liz Truss has canceled her only campaign Conservative TV interview to the leadership, claiming she is too busy - raising further questions about her willingness to face intense scrutiny.

The favorite to be the next Prime Minister was due to be quizzed by Nick Robinson of the BBC on Tuesday evening, but withdrew because it can "spare no more time".

The decision comes after Ms Truss' economic plans were sharply criticized by the Institute for Fiscal Studies ( IFS), who warned that massive unfunded tax cuts would 'collapse public finances'.

There is growing confusion over the aid the Foreign Secretary manages plans to dull the pain of soaring energy bills - having first 'ruled out' aid for every household, but then appeared to rethink the stance.

Ms Truss had already was criticized for refusing to be interviewed by Andrew Neil - considered television's toughest test for any politician - but then agreed to face Mr Robinson.

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Announcing the cancellation, the BBC News Service said: "Ms Truss's team say they can spare no more time to appear in 'Our Next Prime Minister ".

"We regret that it was not possible to conduct an in-depth interview with the two candidates although they have reached an agreement to do so," he said. - referring to Mr Robinson's interview with Rishi Sunak earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the former Chancellor's campaign said: 'It is important that candidates make the subject to scrutiny so that members and the public know what they are up to.

"Avoiding this scrutiny either suggests that Liz Truss has no plan at all, or that her plan is well below the challenges we face this winter.

And Conor McGinn, Shadow Labor Minister Without Portfolio, said: "People will rightly conclude that she doesn't want to answer questions about her." plans for the country because it simply does not have serious answers to the great challenges facing our country. ”

The running favorite did not provide an explanation for the cancellation, which comes with only one election campaign remaining in the campaign – Wednesday night.

It looks like Ms Truss has decided that, with every poll pointing to a nice win over Mr Sunak next Monday, she had little to gain from the interview, but potentially a lot to lose.

Her only long broadcast interview from the two-month campaign, with the BBC In mid-July Radio 4 launched a major row over the credibility of its economic strategy.

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