THE NORTH West Conservative Party chairman is amongst those rallying around Liz Truss after a difficult few weeks for her new premiership and he says her speech last week may have “settled some of the jitters” in the party.

Chris Whiteside, member of Cumbria County Council for Egremont and St Bees is amongst the undersigned on an open letter titled “End Tory infighting.”

The letter, published in the Telegraph is signed by the leadership of local Conservative Party branches across the country, including Councillor Whiteside who is chairman of the North West branch.

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It reads: “As the leadership of the voluntary party we urge the entire Conservative Party to stop infighting, unite behind the Prime Minister and focus on delivering for this country and taking on the Labour Party.”

Efforts to rally Conservatives as one comes after speculation that Prime Minister Liz Truss is already facing dissent from within her own party. She has been heavily criticised for the fall of the pound and lifting the cap on bankers’ bonuses in the mini budget.

Cllr Whiteside said: “Liz Truss has taken over at an incredibly difficult time and the first challenge she’s had is the cost-of-living.”

 

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He said that Ms Truss was right to take action quickly as otherwise, families could have seen their energy bills rise to about £6,000 a year.

“She actually did something about that within days of being elected.”

Cllr Whiteside said that while the increase in national borrowing as a result of Government actions has led to a run on the pound, that is in comparison to a strong dollar.

“I do think Prime Ministers have to listen and I think it was right the Prime Minister listened on the top rate of tax.”

Cllr Whiteside said that “the optics of doing what was seen as tax cuts for the very richest” were bad as the least fortunate in our society are struggling.

He said that in her party conference speech, the PM may have calmed some of the dissent in the party and that now is not the time for a “circular firing squad.”

“That’s not just against the Conservative Party interest it’s against the national interest.

“Her speech at the conference was very good indeed I thought, it settled some of the jitters.”

James White, party member from Dalston said: “I’ve said from the outset that she will be judged by her first 100 days and it’s perhaps way too early to delve into a performance review. We will know by Christmas whether she will lead a credible General Election campaign.

“But I suspect her greatest challenge is yet to come by way of the escalating crisis in Ukraine.”

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