Liz Truss on Rishi Sunak

Liz Truss's public stance toward Rishi Sunak has been characterised by the dynamics of their rivalry during the Conservative Party leadership contests and his subsequent tenure as Prime Minister. Upon resigning in October 2022, Truss wished Sunak "every success" before he was appointed as her successor, a moment where she offered him her "full support" to ensure a smooth transition of power. This followed their head-to-head contest over the summer of 2022, where Truss defeated him to become leader and Prime Minister. During the leadership campaigns, their economic visions were clearly opposed, with Truss advocating immediate, large-scale tax cuts that Sunak cautioned against due to fiscal instability concerns.

Following his ascension, Truss's position evolved into one of criticism, particularly regarding the reversal of her key policies by the new government, which she viewed as a betrayal of her mandate. She has since warned him not to shelve specific long-term plans, such as childcare reform, indicating a sustained ideological disagreement from the backbenches. Although she offered initial support for his premiership following her departure, her later public commentary has focused on defending her own economic approach while implicitly or explicitly challenging the direction set by his administration.