When is PMQs? Liz Truss to be grilled on U-turns
This week’s Prime Minister’s Questions may just be the most important task facing Liz Truss this week. The PM has not spoken in public since a brief press conference on Friday.
It has led to accusations the PM is dodging questions and refusing to answer to the disastrous mini-Budget and the many U-turns that came after.
At an urgent session in Parliament on Monday, Penny Mordaunt was forced to deny Liz Truss was “cowering under her desk” after the PM skipped an urgent question session in parliament.
She did put in a brief appearance at Parliament, sitting on the frontbenches looking pale as her new chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed most of her mini-Budget. Truss gave the BBC an interview in which she apologised for ‘mistakes made.’
Mordaunt faced laughter and calls of “where is she” as she took the PM’s place.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Where is the Prime Minister? Hiding away, dodging questions, scared of her own shadow. The lady is not for turning – up.”
He said of Ms Mordaunt’s presence: “I guess under this Tory Government, everybody gets to be Prime Minister for 15 minutes.”
Today, the opposition and MPs will get the chance to question the PM directly.
When is the next PMQs?
PMQs starts at its usual time of midday.
You can stream it here or follow the live blog.
Why did Liz Truss miss the urgent question?
No reason was given as to why Liz Truss missed the urgent question but Penny Mordaunt said she was away on “urgent business.”
Sir Keir said the decision showed Ms Truss had “lost all credibility”.
What’s on the agenda for this week’s PMQ?
It’s likely to heavily focus on the ripping up of her mini-Budget and the many U-turns. Almost all the plans she was elected on have now been reversed as her new chancellor tries to reassure and calm the financial markets.
The PM may be expected to apologise in parliament, not only for the economic mess but the political mess and the stress on the public.