Tory leadership: Cabinet secretary takes issue with Liz Truss 'smear campaign'

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has intervened following allegations of a smear campaign against Tory leadership favorite Liz Truss.

In a surprise statement, he said there was no truth to rumors that complaints had been made in Whitehall over Ms Truss's behavior as Foreign Secretary .

The Cabinet Secretary has launched an inquiry after unsubstantiated reports of alleged misconduct by Ms Truss swept through Westminster.

In an apparent attempt to kill the rumours, he also denied a report that he had discussed with other mandarins "personal issues" regarding Ms Truss.

The unsubstantiated allegations about her alleged conduct were repeated to the Independent by several senior Conservatives, including past and present cabinet members.

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A statement issued on behalf of Mr Case by the Cabinet Office yesterday said: 'Having heard of media queries about the existence alleged complaints about the conduct of the minis Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet Secretary sought confirmation from colleagues that there had been no formal or informal complaints raised with officials about the Foreign Secretary General.

"We can confirm that neither the Foreign Office nor the Cabinet Office have received any such complaints. Claims that the Cabinet Secretary discussed with colleagues 'personal matters' concerning Ms Truss are not true."

Asked directly by the independent for comment, Mr. Case declined to respond.

Mr. Case released a statement to dispel rumors that complaints have been filed against Ms. Truss

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A spokesperson for Ms Truss told the Independent: 'To suggest or report that complaints have been made against the Foreign Secretary is untrue and untrue.'

Privately, his team is furious with his intervention.

The cabinet secretary's statement comes after growing concern among Tories over the personal battle a criminal between Mrs. Truss and Mr. Sunak.

Mr. Sunak labeled her political economy as "socialist" and mocked her for previously being a Lib Dem and a "Remainer".

Some of her supporters say her only chance to top her apparent lead among Tor y members is to launch an all-out political assault.

For her part, Ms Truss mocked 'manager' Mr Sunak and vowed to tear up his economic policies.

< p>His allies reportedly claimed last week that Mr Sunak's supporters plan to use 'dirty tricks' to undermine her: his supporters claim he is the victim of an attempt by Ms Truss supporters to portray him as a 'traitor' for stepping down as chancellor, triggering the downfall of Boris Johnson.

Tories are increasingly concerned that the battle between Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss could turn sour

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Both sides of the candidates deny using 'dirty tricks'.

This is not the first time that Mr Case has been dragged into the running for the leadership of the Conservatives.

On Wednesday he launched an investigation into allegations that officials leaked information to harm Penny Mordaunt, who was narrowly beaten by Ms Truss in the last round of Tory MPs.

In a letter to Ms Mordaunt's cheerleader and former Cabinet minister David Davis, Mr Case said he had made it "very clear" to staff that he was "primordial that public resources are not used to support leadership campaigns" during the competition.

He added that 'unauthorized release of government information to the media is clearly inappropriate'.

Friends of Ms Mordaunt say she has been targeted with 'libel baseless claims that she is pro trans, lazy and dim."

On Friday, The Times newspaper said Mr. Case was set to offer to resign from his position. office of Cabinet Secretary, which Mr. Sunak or Ms. Truss win, unless they declare their full confidence in him.