In the Times, Danny Finkelstein, a Tory peer and former adviser to several governments, warns that the party must prepare for a disaster worse than 1997. He says: “The Conservatives are not certain to lose the next election, but we have reached point where everyone in politics is waiting for it. The point where political editors may prefer to dine with the opposition rather than the government.” It’s not much better to read about Truss in the Daily Telegraph, where veteran columnist Philip Johnston says the Tories appear to have thrown in the towel after 12 years, although he lays the blame at the door of MPs rather than the prime minister. “There comes a time when governments simply run out of steam, and there is a strong sense in Birmingham that the Conservatives are approaching that time, or even beyond it. This is ironic given that Liz Truss has staked everything on what appears to be a fresh start. but her MPs just won’t let her off the ramps.” Sarah Vine in the Daily Mail tells Truss she failed to come across as strong enough and made a mistake by kicking big names like Vine’s ex-husband Michael Gove out of the cabinet. Her advice? “Moreover, she needs to lasso one or two of these big beasts and hitch them to her wagon by hook or crook. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “It won’t be easy, and no doubt it will be very painful, not to mention humiliating. But if he can appeal to their greatest love for the party to which, in many cases, they have devoted their entire careers, if he can appeal to their sense of loyalty and duty, then perhaps he can succeed… And if he doesn’t ? Well, I’m afraid this only ends one way. With Keir Starmer taking the keys to No 10 – and the Conservative party in the wilderness for years to come.” However, Truss received the endorsement of 82-year-old economist Arthur Laffer in the Mail, known as the father of Reaganomics for devising the Laffer curve which purports to show that governments can raise total taxation by cutting taxes. “When I read about your new administration’s budget plans last month, I cheered them to the rafters at home in Nashville, Tennessee,” he says.
