Liz Truss demands end to Tory infighting as she pushes for growth

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The Prime Minister will tell the party to stop the infighting and start focusing on delivering for Britain.

Ms Truss will say: “The scale of the challenge is immense. 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. That is what we have a clear plan to deliver.”

Tensions in the party boiled over yesterday when Cabinet ministers rowed over tax and benefits policies.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was “disappointed” by the decision to leave the 45p top rate of tax in place and accused Tory rebels like Michael Gove who pushed for it of staging a “coup”.

She was backed by Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke, who said Ms Braverman “talks a lot of sense”.

But International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch criticised claims of a coup as “inflammatory”.

Meanwhile, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, said she wants benefits to rise in line with inflation instead of wages as the Prime Minister is considering.

Ms Truss said there would be no rebuke for Ms Mordaunt’s outspoken intervention.

She will make it clear that squabbling among themselves will not deliver the growth the country needs.

The Prime Minister will set out her determination to smash the cycle of high-tax and low-growth when she takes to the conference platform in Birmingham.

Rail strikes timed by the hard-left union barons to coincide with the last day of the gathering mean she is likely to have fewer party members in the hall than would usually be expected.

But after a difficult week, she will set out an optimistic vision of how the country can be transformed.

Pleading a “new Britain for the new era”, she will say that having taken decisive action to tackle the energy crisis, it is time to be unashamedly pro-growth, pro-aspiration and pro-enterprise. 

Boosting the tax take will help pump funding into public services like the NHS. 

Ms Truss will say: “For too long, our economy has not grown as strongly as it should have done.”

“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.”

Most of the speech will focus on the economy, with Ms Truss drawing on her childhood in Leeds and Paisley to explain what motivates her desire to give everyone the opportunity to do well in life.

She will promise to have an iron grip on the UK’s finances with fiscal responsibility, value for money for the taxpayer, sound money and a lean state. 

Ms Truss 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.”

The Prime Minister will tell the party the status quo is not an option and it must get on with delivering for voters. 

“We are the only party with the determination to deliver,” she will say.

“Together, we can unleash the full potential of our great country. That is how we will build a new Britain for the new era.”

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng suggested the Conservatives could win the next general election despite Labour’s massive lead in the polls.

“Polls do go up and down,” he said and insisted “two years is an eternity” in politics.

“I never predict victory because that’s hubris but I think we can be very competitive and have a compelling story to tell.”

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