Tory leadership: Truss criticised for Macron ‘jury is out’ remark
Tory hopeful Liz Truss has been criticised after she said the “jury was still out” on French President Emmanuel Macron.
Her remark came at a Tory leadership husting, as the country gets closer to finding out who will be the next prime minister. She was asked if the French President was a “friend or foe” of the UK, which prompted her response.
She added that if she becomes PM she would judge him on “deeds not words.”
Rishi Sunak was asked the same question and he responded “friend.”
Labour’s David Lammy accused Truss of a “woeful lack of judgement” saying she had insulted one of “Britain’s closest allies.”
Former Conservative minister Gavin Barwell also questioned Ms Truss’s comment saying: “You would have thought the foreign secretary was aware we are in a military alliance with France.”
Another ex-Tory minister, David Gauke, said: “There’s
playing to the gallery and then there’s letting the prejudices of the gallery go to your head, especially when now is one of the worst times to try to fragment the West.”
Truss’ comments were met with applause at the hustings, perhaps because the UK and France have clashed over several issues in recent years and Macron has sometimes publicly critised the Tory government’s approach.
Truss is still seen as the front runner to become the country’s next prime minister.
A new party leader – and therefore PM, will be announced 5 September.