Liz Truss’ constituency hangs in the balance after voters look to cast ballots on her record as PM
In 2019 Liz Truss was once again elected MP for South West Norfolk – her fourth election win.
The then international trade secretary and later prime minister romped home to victory with nearly 70% of the vote.
Her constituency was one of the safest in the country.
But now, if the polls are to be believed, it is hanging in the balance.
A dramatic reversal of fortune akin to her time in Downing Street.
And it is that brief, the shortest premiership, which seems to have played an important part in why even in this most conservative of constituencies Conservatives are considering not voting for her.
“My husband lost 40% of his pension when she did what she did. So he’s 67 and still working,” one voter said to me.
Another talked about how she couldn’t vote for Truss because her daughter’s mortgage had risen three times in the past 18 months.
It went on and on.
In fact, I was taken aback by the reaction.
I’ve spent a lot of my time talking to voters in different parts of the country over the past decade and I can’t remember a more visceral reaction to one candidate – and not in a good way.
Time again, there was criticism about how little Truss spends in the constituency and how visible she is during the campaign.
Lots of voters complained of the few chances they had had to interact with her – brief visits and Facebook posts was the criticism.
A spokesperson for Truss claimed the former prime minister has never attended hustings at any election but she does hold constituency surgeries however doesn’t publicly advertise them for security reasons.
It wasn’t entirely negative for Truss, with one voter saying they were leaning towards voting for her and another saying they were wavering but had been spooked by the “tax issue” with Labour.
One voter said they remained undecided ahead of next month’s election as others were unimpressed by the former PM
Others remained undecided ahead of the election, with one voter saying: “I’m a bit undecided, you hear so much, you don’t know who to go for.”
But her political opponents are trying to make this election effectively a referendum on Truss.
The Labour Party, which drew little support here five years ago, reckons it is now in with a chance.
Terry Jermy, the party’s candidate, said: “At the start of this election campaign I didn’t intend to write a victory speech… I’m writing one now.”
The Lib Dems too argue Truss’ record is coming up on the doorstep. “People are very disappointed with her performance as our constituency MP,” says Josie Radcliffe.
Another candidate, James Bagge, is pitching himself as a true-blue independent Conservative – even if he frankly has a small chance of success.
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Truss’ campaign didn’t take up the offer of an interview, insisting she is not engaging with national media, in a statement to Sky News. They said she’s focusing her time on the campaign trail talking directly to residents and as an experienced, high-profile campaigner who will continue to fight for traditional conservative values and stand up for South West Norfolk.
When you stand in a safe Conservative seat, as a former PM, you don’t ordinarily need to worry.
But this is no ordinary election and Truss is a very divisive politician.
It means for the first time in generations this part of Norfolk is up for grabs.
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Politics
Sir Keir Starmer set for Donald Trump trade talks as PM walks diplomatic line between EU allies and US on Gaza
Gaza and transatlantic trade are set to dominate talks between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer when the pair meet in Scotland on Monday.
Downing Street said the prime minister would discuss “what more can be done to secure the ceasefire [in the Middle East] urgently”, during the meeting at the president’s Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire.
Talks in Qatar over a ceasefire ended on Thursday after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams.
Mr Trump blamed Hamas for the collapse of negotiations as he left the US for Scotland, saying the militant group “didn’t want to make a deal… they want to die”.
Sir Keir has tried to forge close personal ties with the president, frequently praising his actions on the world stage despite clear foreign policy differences between the US and UK.
The approach seemed to pay off in May when Mr Trump announced the agreement of a trade deal with the UK that would see several tariffs lowered.
The two leaders are expected to discuss this agreement when they meet, with the prime minister likely to press the president for a lowering of outstanding tariffs on imports such as steel.
Prior to the visit, the White House said the talks would allow them to “refine the historic US-UK trade deal”.
Extracting promises from the president on the Middle East may be harder though.
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Should aid be dropped into Gaza?
Despite some reports that Mr Trump is growing frustrated with Israel, there is a clear difference in tone between the US and its Western allies.
As he did over the Ukraine war, Sir Keir will have to walk a diplomatic line between the UK’s European allies and the White House.
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, the first member of the G7 to do so.
That move was dismissed by Mr Trump, who said it “doesn’t carry any weight”.
Read more from Sky News:
US and EU agree trade deal – with bloc facing 15% tariffs
Geldof accuses Israel of ‘lying’ about Gaza starvation
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Trump: ‘It doesn’t matter what Macron says’
The UK, French and German leaders spoke over the weekend and agreed to work together on the “next phase” in Gaza that would see transitional governance and security arrangements put in place, alongside the large-scale delivery of aid.
Under pressure from members of his own party and cabinet to follow France and signal formal recognition of Palestine, Sir Keir has gradually become more critical of Israel in recent months.
On Friday, the prime minister said “the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel’s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible”.
Government sources say UK recognition is a matter of “when, not if”, however, it’s thought Downing Street wants to ensure any announcement is made at a time when it can have the greatest diplomatic impact.
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Baby Zainab starved to death in Gaza
Cabinet ministers will be convened in the coming days, during the summer recess, to discuss the situation in Gaza.
The UK has also been working with Jordan to air drop supplies, after Israel said it would allow foreign countries to provide aid to the territory.
President Trump’s trip to Scotland comes ahead of his second state visit to the UK in September.
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Downing Street says Ukraine will also likely be discussed in the meeting with both men reflecting on what can be done to force Russia back to the negotiating table.
After the meeting at Turnberry, the prime minister will travel with the president to Aberdeen for a private engagement.
Mr Trump is also expected to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney while in the country.
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