UK
Liz Truss’s book Ten Years To Save The West in breach of rules in place on minister’s memoirs
Liz Truss’s memoir broke the rules in place for ministers publishing works about their time in office.
The former prime minister’s book, Ten Years To Save The West, came out earlier this week and tells of her time as the UK shortest-serving leader.
This includes how her government was run, and details of her conversation with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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While Ms Truss submitted the book to civil servants in the Cabinet Office for review, a final sign-off was not sought before publication.
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: “This book was submitted to the Cabinet Office for review. While we would not publicise the details of any discussions, we did not agree to the final wording. So the author is in breach of the Radcliffe Rules.”
The Radcliffe Rules, introduced in the wake of the publication in the 1970s of the diaries of Richard Crossman’s time in cabinet, prohibit the publication of content which is damaging or destructive to national security, to the UK’s international relations, or to the confidentiality of government business.
A source close to Ms Truss said: “The Cabinet Office confirmed that Liz complied with all the rules regarding national security and relations with foreign governments, but she wanted to ensure that the truth was told about the mini-budget and the role of officials and the Bank of England.
“She believes this is in the public interest.”
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One of Ms Truss’s claims in the book about the Bank of England has come under further criticism.
Ms Truss has repeatedly attacked the UK’s central bank, which stepped in following the mini-budget, and she assigns blame for her downfall.
In the book, Ms Truss wrote: “If only the words attributed to Mayer Amschel Rothschild of the famous banking family had been heeded: ‘Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.'”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote to Biteback, the publishers of the volume, to say this quote was “fabricated”.
A spokesperson for the community organisation added: “The publishing house has apologised for this quote being mistakenly cited and for the failure to identify its false nature during the fact-checking process.
“They have promised that it will be removed in the e-book version and in any future print editions of the book. We thank them for their swift response.”
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A source close to Ms Truss said: “Liz came across the quote and thought it a useful way of illustrating a point about the Bank of England.
“Numerous online sources have stated that it was attributed to Rothschild, so she simply attributed it thus. Clearly nothing more was meant of it.”
Sky News has approached Biteback for comment.