‘Everyone will benefit from the result’: Liz Truss will use keynote speech at Tory conference to tell party members ‘disruption’ caused by her under-fire tax plans will boost economic growth
- Prime Minister will use keynote speech to try and unite warring Tories
- Tory gathering in Birmingham has been overshadowed by her tax U-turn
- PM will insist that her ‘new approach’ is vital in tackling challenge Britain faces
- Will acknowledge plans are controversial but Britain cannot afford more delay
Liz Truss will today insist the ‘disruption’ caused by her radical plans will be repaid with a boost to the country’s anaemic economic growth.
The Prime Minister will use her keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference to try to unite warring Tories behind her vision of a ‘new Britain for a new era’.
The Tory gathering in Birmingham has been overshadowed by the Prime Minister’s dramatic U-turn over tax – as well as the extraordinary infighting between her senior ministers.
But the PM will insist that her ‘new approach’ is vital in tackling the ‘immense challenge’ Britain faces.
Miss Truss will acknowledge that her plans are controversial, but she will warn that Britain cannot afford more ‘drift and delay’.
The Prime Minister will use her keynote speech, pictured practising, to the Conservative Party conference to try to unite warring Tories behind her vision of a ‘new Britain for a new era
The Tory gathering in Birmingham has been overshadowed by the Prime Minister’s dramatic U-turn over tax – as well as the extraordinary infighting between her senior ministers. But the PM will insist that her ‘new approach’ is vital in tackling the ‘immense challenge’ Britain faces. Pictured: She goes over her speech
‘The scale of the challenge is immense,’ she will say. ‘War in Europe for the first time in a generation.
‘A more uncertain world in the aftermath of Covid. And a global economic crisis.
‘That is why in Britain we need to do things differently. Whenever there is change, there is disruption. Not everyone will be in favour.
‘But everyone will benefit from the result – a growing economy and a better future.’ Miss Truss will add: ‘That is what we have a clear plan to deliver.’ The Prime Minister has already had to abandon her plan to scrap the 45p top rate of tax.
She is now under pressure over proposals to squeeze £7billion from the welfare budget by capping rises in benefit payments to average incomes rather than inflation. Ministers are braced for more controversy this month when the Government publishes proposals for radical ‘supply side’ reforms in eight areas covering everything from planning and employment rights to farming and fracking.
The Prime Minister will insist she is right to focus on super-charging growth rather than obsessing over arguments about redistribution.
‘For too long, our economy has not grown as strongly as it should have done,’ she will say. ‘For too long, the political debate has been dominated by how we distribute a limited economic pie.
‘Instead, we need to grow the pie so that everyone gets a bigger slice.
‘That is why I am determined to take a new approach and break us out of this high-tax, low-growth cycle. That is what our plan is about: Getting our economy growing and rebuilding Britain through reform.’ Conservative sources said Miss Truss planned to make a short, focused speech of about half an hour – roughly half the duration of a typical leader’s address.
A source said the Prime Minister would acknowledge that ‘mistakes have been made’ in the early days of her administration.
But Miss Truss will also turn her fire on Labour, arguing that Sir Keir Starmer does not understand the scale of the reforms needed to kickstart growth.
Miss Truss will also turn her fire on Labour, arguing that Sir Keir Starmer does not understand the scale of the reforms needed to kickstart growth
Alongside measures to boost growth, the Prime Minister will insist she will keep an ‘iron grip’ on the nation’s finances, with a leaner state offering value for taxpayers’ money. She will say: ‘This is a great country. But I know that we can do better and we must do better. We have huge talent across the country. We’re not making enough of it.
‘To deliver this, we need to get Britain moving. We cannot have any more drift and delay at this vital time.’
Mrs Truss wrote on Twitter last night: ‘We are the only party with a clear plan to grow our economy and get Britain moving. We are the only party with the determination to deliver. Together, we can unleash the full potential of our great country.’
Last night, whips were appealing to MPs not to leave the conference before the Prime Minister speaks – a process not helped by rail strikes today which will cripple services to Birmingham.
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