Commons erupts as Liz Truss is 'detained on urgent business'

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Liz Truss was missing in action and sent her apologies to MPs for not attending Parliament. The leader of the House Penny Mordaunt explained Ms Truss was away on “urgent business”. This sparked an eruption of laughter throughout the House of Commons.

Ms Mourdant told MPs: “With apologies to the leader of the Opposition and the House, the Prime Minister is detained on urgent business.”

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle quietened down the heckling MPs to say: “I must hear the answer of why the Prime Minister is not here.”

Ms Mourdant continued: “I’m afraid you will have to make do with me.”

Sir Keir Starmer mocked Liz Truss for not turning up to answer the urgent question, saying “the lady is not for turning – up”.

He added: “I guess under this Tory Government, everybody gets to be Prime Minister for 15 minutes.

“It’s time for leaders to lead. But where is the Prime Minister? Hiding away, dodging questions, scared of her own shadow. The lady is not for turning – up.”

Ms Truss is battling to save her premiership after new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ditched the bulk of her economic strategy.

Mr Hunt scaled back the energy support package and ditched “almost all” the tax cuts announced by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng less than a month ago as he attempted to restore economic stability following weeks of turmoil on the financial markets.

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Ms Truss became Prime Minister after winning the Tory leadership contest on the back of promises to dramatically cut tax, and the wholesale abandonment of the policies has left her fighting for her job after just six weeks.

The Government had already abandoned plans to scrap the 45p rate of income tax for top earners and had U-turned over a promise not to increase corporation tax.

The changes dramatically cut the cost of Mr Kwarteng’s £45 billion tax giveaway, reducing it by around £32 billion.

Financial markets, which had been spooked by the prospect of unfunded tax cuts on top of emergency interventions in the energy market and the cost of Covid-19 support, appeared reassured by Mr Hunt’s announcements.

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The pound and UK Government bonds rallied in response to the statement, while economists suggested the Chancellor’s approach may reduce the need for dramatic interest rate rises.

In a televised statement, the Chancellor – who only took office on Friday – warned of more “tough” decisions to come.

“Governments cannot eliminate volatility in markets but they can play their part and we will do so,” he said.

Plans to cut national insurance contributions and a reduction in stamp duty, which are already going through Parliament, will continue.

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