Truss faces new questions over 'Fizz with Liz' champagne dinner

Liz Truss embroiled in new controversy after leak of an email left her facing questions about why she failed to declare thousands of pounds spent courting Tory MPs ahead of her bid to succeed Boris Johnson. /p>

A dozen Tory MPs attended a so-called 'Fizz with Liz' champagne dinner hosted by the Foreign Secretary at Mayfair's 5 Hertford St Members' Club last year.

The event was paid for by the club's owner, multi-millionaire aristocrat Robin Birley.

When The Independent asked why Ms Truss had not said the f anointing – worth an estimated £3,000 – in the Commons Register, where MPs are required to disclose hospitality worth more than £300, her spokesman denied she had arranged it.

It had "nothing to do with her", they said. Ms Truss was just one of many guest Tory MPs invited by 'organizer and host' Mr Birley, the spokesman said.

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However, this account is disputed by other MPs present who told The Independent that she was the host and not Mr. Birley, who "came briefly to say hello".

The invitation sent to MPs suggests that the event was organized by Truss's office

(provided)

Also, they said they were invited by Mrs. Truss. Their version of events appears to be corroborated by a copy of the invitation obtained by this newspaper.

Sent from her Commons email address, it read: "Liz Truss, MP, is delighted to invite you to dinner at 5 Hertford Street on October 26 at 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP by October 10. Best wishes, Office of Liz Truss."

A source close to Boris Johnson said The Independent it was told when Ms Truss met a group of Tory MPs at 5 Hertford St in October last year and appeared to be 'on the move'.< /p>

Former cabinet minister David Davis, who backs Mr Sunak, said: 'We just lost a prime minister after he broke the rules and couldn't bring himself to say the whole truth in the House of Commons. It would be a tragedy if a future Prime Minister did the same before even arriving in Downing Street.

The Parliament's code of conduct states that MPs must declare in the joint register of financial interests any gift, benefit or hospitality worth more than £300.

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