Tory conference LIVE: ‘They didn’t warn us!’ Top ministers ‘apoplectic’ over

A leading ally of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak has led the attack on Liz Truss this morning over her U-turn on scrapping the 45p rate for higher earners claiming she had “shown the wrong values” even to consider it.

Teesside Mayor Ben Houchen, one of Mr Sunak’s key lieutenants during the summer leadership contest, became the latest top figure to question the Prime Minister’s priorities after Michael Gove, another Sunak ally, led the rebellion yesterday which forced the U-turn.

With Tory members in shock over the announcement by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, this morning that the policy had been abandoned a CCHQ event was only half attended with the party faithful digesting the news.

But the speaker at the event, Mr Houchen, immediately launched an attack on the policy.

Asked by the event chairman what he thought of the U-turn, Mr Houchen said: “I was very pleased. I was calling for it before it became fashionable.”

He added that he “gets the economics” of the idea but warned that “it sent the wrong values at a time when people on low and even middle incomes are struggling to pay their bills” because of the cost of living crisis.

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