LIZ Truss will “trim the fat” and look to make cuts to public spending, the Tory chair has admitted.
Jake Berry said on the first day of the party’s Birmingham bash that ministers had agreed that departments will have to make savings to help balance the books.
Jake Berry greets the PM as she arrived at conference last night
Liz Truss will ‘trim the fat’ and look to make cuts, the Tory chair admitted
It comes just weeks after the PM said she didn’t want to be making big spending cuts, promised during the Tory leadership election.
But Mr Berry told Sky’s Sophie Ridge: “What we’ve heard from the government is that there is going to be a drive to trim fat in terms of government expenditure..
“Everyone will accept that there are efficiencies that can be found.”
Ministers from all departments have been ordered to see how savings can be made – despite soaring inflation eating away at their cash.
But during the Tory leadership contest, Ms Truss said she is not planning “public spending reductions”.
Party chair Mr Berry also risked fury by suggesting that struggling families should ask for a pay rise or get a better paid job, telling Times Radio: “You need to grow your personal household budget… in many cases people’s pay packets”.
Earlier this morning the PM twice refused to rule out swinging cuts to budgets to help get borrowing under control again.
She told the BBC: “I believe in getting value for money for the taxpayer.”
Ministers have also dodged questions on whether they will keep the promised benefits uplift next year – which Rishi Sunak promised would rise in line with inflation.
It means people struggling could lose £1000 a year as they will see their handouts not rise by as much as promised.
