Londoner’s Diary
Tons of ink has been spilled on the subject of Liz Truss, but a new book out today promises even more revelations about her 49-day stint as prime minister. Truss At 10, by Sir Anthony Seldon and Jonathan Meakin, gives a blow-by-blow account.
It includes extensive quotations of Truss’s private conversations with advisers, who agreed to speak to the authors, giving a unique insight into Truss’s private patter and her deep love of swearing. In this account, she drops F-bombs like a mafioso character in a Martin Scorsese film.
In fact the story of her rise and rapid fall can be told in swears. On entering Downing Street she told advisers: “Sorry. Let’s just f***ing go for it.” In response to those who urged caution she barked: “Press ahead. I don’t want to hear any f***ing objections… I don’t f***ing care. Press on.”
After the negative response to the mini-Budget and the sacking of top Treasury civil servant Sir Tom Scholar, she surmised: “It’s Tom Scholar and his f***ing mates at the IMF who are responsible for all the fuss”. Shortly thereafter she concluded: “We must send out people to attack the f***ing OBR and the IMF at once.”
When brainstorming her infamous “anti-growth coalition” speech, she praised her speechwriters: “I love it! — It’s a massive f*** you. It’s great.”
And when things got really sticky, with the writing on the wall, she simply said: “Why the f*** has this been happening? What the f*** is going on?”
Truss has already made efforts to discredit the book, with her spokesperson briefing that it includes untruths. They specifically denied a claim in the book that she wanted to upheave NHS cancer treatment to fill a funding black hole. Co-author Sir Anthony is standing firm. “I have nothing more to add. I’m very happy with the book. I have nothing to add, whatsoever,” he told us.
Rally Festival
Londoners flocked to Southwark Park over the bank holiday weekend for Rally, a grassroots music festival from the team behind Gala. Cult status DJs played among installations from artists like Corbin Shaw, who also led a workshop. Electronic group Mount Kimbie headlined, playing their only UK show this year. Also on the line-up were anonymous dance duo Two Shell, DJ Call Super and London trio bar italia.
