Liz Truss has been mocked on social media after an old tweet in which she mourned the death of paedophile Jimmy Savile resurfaced. Ms Truss was announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party on Monday, September 5 and will enter Number 10 as the new prime minister today replacing outgoing leader Boris Johnson.
But the new leader of the country had people talking for other reasons on Monday as one of her old tweets began doing the rounds as the result of the party's leadership contest, in which she beat former chancellor Rishi Sunak, was announced.
The tweet, posted on the day of Jimmy Savile's death on October 29, 2011, saw Ms Truss pay tribute to the disgraced former Top of the Pops presenter, saying: "Used to see Jimmy Savile at the Flying Pizza on Street Lane, Roundhay. Always in good spirits. RIP."
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One of the UK's highest profile TV presenters, Jimmy Savile shot from working class beginnings to stardom and his extensive charity work and flamboyant public persona were widely praised before he died aged 84. Although allegations over sexual abuse were rumoured before his death, it was only in 2012 that Scotland Yard launched investigations into historic abuse by Savile. In June 2014, investigations into Savile's activities in 28 NHS hospitals, including Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, concluded that he had sexually assaulted staff and patients aged between five and 75 over several decades. In that same year Jeremy Hunt, then Secretary of State for Health, issued an apology to NHS patients who were abused by Savile, who was never brought to justice for his crimes.
Ms Truss' tweet, which has still not been deleted, was widely shared on Twitter on Monday as the leadership result was announced. Comedian James Felton shared the tweet saying: "This excellent judge of character is about to pick the cabinet." He later added: "If I was prime minister I would think about deleting my “I’m sad the notorious paedophile has died” tweet."
Others also commented on the tweet with one user saying: "Ladies & Gentlemen your new PM Liz Truss thinks importing cheese is a disgrace but Jimmy Savile? Nah, he’s alright it seems?" while another said: "Interesting tweet from the incoming UK Prime Minister."
One user said: "Liz Truss can’t even manage a Twitter account, let alone a country" while another simply quipped: "There is always a tweet."
Outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson is making a farewell speech on Tuesday before Ms Truss enters Downing Street as prime minister with expectations of swift announcements on her new cabinet and how she will tackle energy costs and cut taxes. You can read all the latest updates here.
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