Cabinet veteran Michael Gove tells Britain ‘we are sorry’

The returning Levelling Up secretary yesterday slated Liz Truss‘s disastrous 44 days as prime minister and vowed to earn the country’s trust again, promising that the new government will fix the economy by rolling back on her policies. 

Michael Gove told the country, ‘we are sorry’ as he slammed the former leader, whom he did not appear to be a fan of.

This was evident earlier this month at Tory conference when he criticised Truss’s plans to cut 45p income tax for top earners.

It was one of the factors that sent her premiership into freefall and ultimately saw her resign. 

The Rishi backer used a column in the Sun to speak of the chaos which continues to ensue with the economy because of Truss’s decision to have a mini budget.

Gove called Truss’s fledgling 44 days in office which saw her cut taxes for the rich a ‘holiday from reality’ and said the Tories had chosen the wrong leader in the Summer.

Saying that Levelling Up is back, he added that he plans to build more low-cost housing which will help families to get on the property ladder.

He has also promised a housing revolution and to tackle the cladding scandal as well as better protection for renters.

Also, he is bringing in new laws to prevent landlords from turfing out their tenants for no reason.  

Gove had hit out at Truss’s plan to cut 45p income tax for top earners at Tory conference earlier this month which was one of the factors that sent her premiership into freefall and ultimately saw her resign

He is expected to make squeaking U-Turns on many of Truss’s policies, including reversing her policy for country-wide ultra low tax investment zones. 

Gove has not denied that Britain faces ‘profound economic challenges and that his return will see him being ‘straight’ about it. 

The Levelling Up Secretary explained that tough decisions are needed because of the economic freefall after the mini budget that also wreaked havoc in the markets.

He added that it had also caused a blackhole in the finances which his boss, newly-appointed prime minister Sunak, is scrambling to salvage.

Saying that Levelling Up is back, he added that he plans to build more low-cost housing which will help families to get on the property ladder

Gove heaped praise on Sunak, saying that he has the experience, competence and compassion to steer the country through the economic challenges. 

He referred to Sunak’s furlough scheme as an example of an economic success during his time as Chancellor, which prevented mass unemployment across the country. 

Sunak is currently trying to find £50 billion for spending cuts and tax hikes. 

Gove has not denied that Britain faces ‘profound economic challenges and that his return will see him being ‘straight’ about it

Sunak, pictured with Gove, is currently trying to find £50 billion for spending cuts and tax hikes

Gove’s pledges to the British people come after he threw shade at Truss earlier this month, talking about the virtues of ‘strong leadership’ on Twitter after her disastrous press conference.

He posted an image from a visit to a school in his Surrey constituency as the Prime Minister was speaking in Downing Street. 

Barely a month into her premiership, Ms Truss fronted a make-or-break press conference to abandon plans to keep corporation tax at 19p, rather than hiking it to 25p in April.

Earlier she had forced her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, to stand down before replacing him with Jeremy Hunt. 

Michael Gove posted an image from a visit to a school in his Surrey constituency– as Liz Truss held her disastrous Downing Street press conference 

Barely a month into her premiership, Ms Truss fronted a make-or-break press conference to abandon plans to keep corporation tax at 19p, rather than hiking it to 25p in April. Earlier she had forced her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, to stand down before replacing him with Jeremy Hunt 

She said she had made a ‘difficult’ decision for ‘economic security’ and ‘in the national interest’, but argued that her ‘mission’ to reduce taxes remained. 

‘We will get through this storm,’ she said. ‘The mission remains the same.. but ultimately we have to make sure we have economic stability.’

Under fierce fire from journalists, Ms Truss refused to apologise for ‘trashing’ the Tories’ reputation – before abruptly walking out after eight minutes and just four questions.

Shortly afterwards Mr Gove posted a picture to Twitter saying: ‘Good to talk to Surrey Heath headteachers today – providing strong leadership for the next generation. 

‘We discussed funding pressures, support for the vulnerable and recruitment and retention.’

Barely a month into her premiership, Ms Truss fronted a make-or-break press conference to abandon plans to keep corporation tax at 19p, rather than hiking it to 25p in April

The former minister at the Tory Party Conference, where he backed increasing benefits in line with inflation rather than wages – something Ms Truss resisted

It came after the former minister, sacked by Boris Johnson earlier this year, made a swathe of interventions on economic policy at the Tory Party Conference last week. 

He criticised plans to axe the 45p tax rate, which was later reversed, and backed increasing benefits in line with inflation rather than wages, something Ms Truss is resisting. 

Looking uncomfortable, Ms Truss took to the podium inside No9 Downing Street to make a statement confirming the corporation tax rethink.

Asked why she should remain as PM, she said: ‘I’m absolutely determined to see through what I have promised, to deliver a higher growth, more prosperous United Kingdom, to see us through the storm we face.

‘We’ve already delivered the energy price guarantee making sure people aren’t facing huge bills this winter.

‘But it was right in the face of the issues that we had that I acted decisively to ensure that we have economic stability, because that is vitally important to people and businesses right across our country.’

Looking uncomfortable, Ms Truss took to the podium inside No9 Downing Street to make a statement confirming the corporation tax rethink

Challenged on whether she would apologise to her party, Ms Truss told reporters: ‘I am determined to deliver on what I set out when I campaigned to be party leader.

‘We need to have a high-growth economy but we have to recognise that we are facing very difficult issues as a country.

‘And it was right, in the national interest, that I made the decisions I’ve made today to restore that economic stability so we can deliver, first of all helping people through this winter and next winter with their energy bills, but also making sure that our country is on the long-term footing for sustainable economic growth.’

Mr Kwarteng was given his marching orders after being hauled back to Downing Street from a US summit, with the PM facing a potentially terminal Tory rebellion.

Former foreign secretary and two-time failed leadership contender Mr Hunt made a shock return as a ‘safe pair of hands’ to take over No11.