Minister warns Truss cannot afford any more mistakes as PM fights to save job

A minister has warned Liz Truss cannot afford to make any more mistakes, as the prime minister fights to save her premiership.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said he remains supportive of Ms Truss, unlike many of his colleagues, but there was no more room for error after a day of U-turns.

New chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who replaced Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday, announced on Monday the government was pulling back on nearly all the mini-budget tax cuts after weeks of economic turmoil.

Truss faces Cabinet as she clings on to save her job – live politics updates

Asked how many more errors Ms Truss can make, Mr Heappey told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “I suspect given how skittish our politics are at the moment, not very many.”

Pushed on exactly how many, he said: “I don’t think there’s the opportunity to make any more mistakes.”

Mr Heappey added that the whole cabinet supported the mini-budget – the first time a minister has admitted that.

He said the mini-budget was presented to the cabinet ahead of Mr Kwarteng announcing it, and they agreed on the fact “each policy would drive growth”.

But, he said he “100%” apologised for the mini-budget and the following turmoil.

Mr Heappey added that he admired Ms Truss for apologising to the public and took a dig at Boris Johnson as he said it was “a contrast to a year ago when the previous prime minister’s woes began”.

Read more:
Liz Truss says sorry for ‘mistakes’ in first few volatile weeks in office

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he would quit if Ms Truss rowed back on her pledge to spend 3% of GDP on defence.

And Mr Heappey told Sky News: “The commitment the prime minister made is 3% by 2030 and to be clear like the Secretary of State, that’s something that I believe must be delivered given the need to keep our nation safe given increasingly uncertain times.”

He later confirmed to LBC he would quit if the commitment was not held to.

During a full cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, the chancellor told ministers every department would need to find savings, a Treasury source said.

Ms Truss is also due to hold talks with MPs from the right of the party as she joins a meeting of the European Research Group of Tory MPs this evening in an attempt to get them to support her.

Last night, she spoke to a meeting of the One Nation group of Tory MPs, who are more to the centre of the party.