London politics latest LIVE: Liz Truss commits to defence spending rise to 3% after resignation threat

Downing Street insisted on Tuesday that Liz Truss will not renege on her pledge to boost defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030 after armed forces minister James Heappey threatened to resign if she did.

Mr Heappey said he and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace both believe the promise “must be delivered” and warned there is “no prosperity without security”.

Asked if he would quit in the face of a U-turn, Mr Heappey told LBC: “Yeah.

“But no-one has said that three per cent is not going to happen by 2030.”

Later, No10 insisted Ms Truss stands by her promise but hinted at possible initial slower rises in defence spending before bigger increases towards end of the decade.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are obviously committed to maintaining the UK’s position at the forefront of Nato, that’s why the PM committed to raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030.

“The shape of that increase will be set out at future spending reviews in the normal way.”

Ms Truss met with the Tory right ERG on Tuesday evening.

That’s all from us

21:19 , Daniel Keane

Thank you for following our live coverage today.

Hunt met with 1922 Committee Chairman

21:02 , Daniel Keane

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met with Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, on Tuesday.

Treasury sources confirmed the meeting to the PA news agency, saying it was a briefing ahead of Mr Hunt's 1922 appearance on Wednesday.

It comes after Sir Graham met with Liz Truss on Monday, an encounter No 10 said was "pre-planned" and during which her lack of support from Conservative MPs likely came up.

Minister arrives at No10

20:40 , Daniel Keane

The minister for skills, further and higher education Andrea Jenkyns could be seen walking quickly into 10 Downing Street shortly before 8pm.

It came after a selection of Tory backbenchers arrived to meet Liz Truss at a reception on Tuesday evening.

‘Grown ups are back’, says former minister

20:09 , Daniel Keane

Conservative former minister Liam Fox has said he is glad "the grown-ups" have returned following Jeremy Hunt and Penny Mordaunt's recent performance at the despatch box.

In a swipe at Liz Truss, Dr Fox told Tonight With Andrew Marr on LBC radio: "I thought, here we are the grown-ups are back, we were getting proper answers to proper questions, thoughtful and with data, and with a bit of a bit of flair and a bit of wit."

Asked whether Ms Truss should remain Prime Minister following recent polling, he said it would be "unwise not to understand the level of public disquiet about where we find ourselves", but suggested a leadership change would "worsen any potential instability in the financial markets".

Tory MPs arrive at Downing Street for reception

19:50 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MPs have started arriving at Downing Street for a reception this evening.

Among the first to arrive was Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope, who walked in shortly before 7.30pm.

Tory MP accuses Truss of ‘experimenting’ with economy

19:43 , Daniel Keane

A senior Tory MP has accused Liz Truss of “experimenting” with the economy.

Tobias Ellwood told Channel 4 News: “There’s no doubt about it, it’s been an experiment we’ve conducted with the economy and it’s not gone well. And there’s a recognition that we now need to reboot, we need to reset, we need to regroup.”

He added: “The mechanics in which we chose our leader, I think, is the core problem that (meant) we ended up where we are today.

“If you only ask our membership which direction they want to go, you’re going to get particular answers. And what was clear is that growth productivity has been a problem in the UK going back to 2008.

“Liz Truss presented a package of measures which clearly were too radical, they didn’t include an understanding of the international headwinds.”

Truss ‘standing firm on Northern Ireland Protocol'

19:28 , Daniel Keane

Liz Truss told Tory MPs of the Brexit-supporting European Research Group (ERG) that she stood by the legislation on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

ERG chairman Mark Francois told journalists after the meeting: "She was absolutely committed to see a robust outcome regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol.

"Very, very clear about that. Remember that she, when she was foreign secretary, was involved in toughening up that legislation."

Mr Francois said the meeting had been "positive".

"She was open. She answered every question that she was asked directly. And as you will know, colleagues in the ERG aren't necessarily hesitant about asking questions. And so she was very clear in the answers that she gave."

Bank of England to delay gilts sale

19:19 , Daniel Keane

The Bank of England has said it will delay the sale of Government bonds to November 1 due to the fiscal announcement later this month.

The central bank had been due to start buying UK government bonds, called gilts, at the end of this month.

It comes after reports by the Financial Times that the Bank would stall the bond sale in an effort to foster greater stability in the bond mrket.

In a statement on Tuesday, it said: "The first gilt sales operation was scheduled to take place on October 31 2022 and proceed thereafter.

"In light of the Government's fiscal announcement now scheduled for October 31 2022, the first gilt sale operation will now take place on November 1 2022."

Truss rehires aide of Boris Johnson

19:04 , Daniel Keane

Liz Truss has rehired former Boris Johnson aide David Canzini, according to the PA News agency.

The Prime Minister's deputy press secretary said Mr Canzini, a Tory party veteran and ardent Brexiteer, had attended her meeting with Brexit-supporting Tory MPs from the European Research Group.

The official told reporters that "he's helping the Prime Minister" as part of her political team, without specifying his job title.

ERG meeting went ‘extremely well'

18:43 , Miriam Burrell

Jacob Rees-Mogg said Liz Truss’s meeting with Tory MPs from the European Research Group went “extremely well”.

The Business Secretary made the comment to reporters as he left the meeting early.

Some customary table-banging was heard during the gathering in Westminster.

The European Research Group is a collection of Brexit-supporting Tory MPs.

Tory MP ‘will not vote to end pensions triple lock'

18:20 , Miriam Burrell

Tory MP Maria Caulfield has said she will not vote to end the pensions triple lock, after Downing Street indicated ministers could ditch the commitment.

Levelling Up Minister: ‘Difficult choices’ to come on public spending

18:15 , Miriam Burrell

Levelling up minister Paul Scully said there are “difficult choices” over public spending to come.

He told BBC Radio 4: “I think what you’ll find is… that public spending will go up but slower than would have otherwise been expected.

“It will still go up in some areas and not in others because it’ll be targeted at those frontline services that are absolutely crucial.

Challenged over where efficiencies can be found, he said: “There are difficult choices. This is about difficult choices. Obviously, if you prioritise some areas, you’ve got to deprioritise other areas and that’s going to be difficult for departments to do.”

Liz Truss arrives for ERG meeting

18:10 , Miriam Burrell

Liz Truss has arrived at a meeting of Tory MPs from the European Research Group (ERG) in Westminster as she attempts to rescue her imperilled leadership.

The Prime Minister smiled at reporters as she arrived, and table-banging was heard as she entered the room.

Conservatives seen going into the meeting include Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and ERG chairman, former minister Mark Francois.

A recap: What happened today?

17:41 , Miriam Burrell

Liz Truss has survived a meeting of the Cabinet without any ministers calling for her to quit, but Tory members and voters appear to be turning on her.

A snap poll of party members released on Tuesday saw more than half respond that she should resign and 83% say she was doing a bad job.

Asked whether Ms Truss was concerned about ministers discussing replacing her, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Her view is she needs to be focused on what is right for the country rather than on any internal discussions among the party at the moment.

Cabinet was dominated by discussions on how to reduce taxpayer spending after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tore up Ms Truss’s original plan for tax cuts and increased public borrowing.

Read more here.

IMF: Budget U-turn will ‘better align fiscal and monetary policy’

17:26 , Miriam Burrell

The International Monetary Fund has said that Liz Truss and Jeremy Hunt’s U-turn on the mini-budget will help “better align fiscal and monetary policy in the fight against inflation”, the BBC is reporting.

“The UK authorities’ recent policy announcements signal commitment to fiscal discipline and help better align fiscal and monetary policy in the fight against inflation. We look forward to the medium-term fiscal plan,” an IMF spokesperson told the broadcaster.

Backing down on pension triple lock ‘mutual decision'

16:55 , Miriam Burrell

Backing down on the pension triple lock commitment was a “mutual decision” by the Prime Minister and Chancellor, Downing Street has insisted.

Asked whether it came from Liz Truss or Jeremy Hunt, her official spokesman told reporters: “A mutual decision. Obviously the Prime Minister and Chancellor had a number of discussions ahead of the statement yesterday, including over the weekend.

“And their agreed position is to prioritise economic stability and to not making any commitments on individual policy areas at this point and wait until the 31st (of October) to come forward.”

Pressed on whether Ms Truss felt like she had been pushed into it by Mr Hunt, the official said: “No”.

UK summons Chinese charge d’affaires after protester attacked

16:24 , Miriam Burrell

The UK has summoned the Chinese ambassador’s deputy to demand an explanation after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was attacked in the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester.

Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman said the UK Government is “extremely concerned at the apparent scenes of violence” at the consulate and had told the Chinese embassy of the need to allow people to protest peacefully.

“The Foreign Secretary (James Cleverly) has issued a summons to the Chinese charge d’affaires at the Chinese embassy in London to express His Majesty’s Government’s deep concern at the incident and to demand an explanation for the actions of the consulate staff.”

Defence Secretary makes emergency trip to US

16:03 , Miriam Burrell

The Defence Secretary has made an emergency trip to the US to discuss the security situation in Ukraine, including the threat of a nuclear attack.

Ben Wallace cancelled his appearance in front of the Commons Defence Committee on Tuesday and flew to the US for summits in the Pentagon and White House.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Mr Wallace was meeting with his US counterpart for “the sort of conversations that [are] beyond belief really, the fact we are at a time when these sorts of conversations are necessary”.

Read more here.

Triple lock state pensions uncertainty

16:00 , Miriam Burrell

Liz Truss appears to have backed down on her commitment to the triple lock on state pensions after the appointment of new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are very aware of how many vulnerable pensioners thee are and indeed our priority ahead of this fiscal plan is we continue to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are not making any commitments on individual policy areas at this point, but as I say the decisions will be made through the prism of what matters most to the most vulnerable.”

No Cabinet members urged Truss to quit, says PM’s spokesman

14:11 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Asked if any of the Cabinet suggested Liz Truss should quit, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No.”

The spokesman insisted the Prime Minister was “not focused on individual party issues”, adding: “Her concern is about what is best for the country”.

Truss focused on country rather than party turmoil, Downing St says

14:00 , Miriam Burrell

Asked whether Liz Truss was concerned about ministers discussing replacing her, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Her view is she needs to be focused on what is right for the country rather than on any internal discussions among the party at the moment.

“She is conscious that these are globally difficult times and the UK is in a difficult situation economically.

“That is why she has acted decisively and that’s why her focus will be on measures for (October) the 31st and also on wider areas of national concern such as war in Europe.”

Defence spending increase confirmed

13:42 , Miriam Burrell

Downing Street has insisted it will stand by a promise of increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 but suggested the “shape” of how the funding gets there could change.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are obviously committed to maintaining the UK’s position at the forefront of Nato, that’s why the PM committed to raise defence spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2030.

“The shape of that increase will be set out at future spending reviews in the normal way.”

Truss tells Cabinet that mini-budget went ‘too far and too fast’

13:34 , Miriam Burrell

Liz Truss told her Cabinet that the Government had gone “too far and too fast” with the mini-budget as she battles to remain in power.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by reiterating that the Government had gone too far and too fast in the mini-budget and that this has been exacerbated by global factors, with inflation rising around the world.

“She said she acted to ensure economic stability but remained fully-committed to the growth agenda.

“The Prime Minister said she wanted to be honest with the public, that times would be tough, that by addressing long-standing issues now we can put the country on a stronger path for the future.”

Hunt: Cabinet minsters must find ways to save taxpayers money

13:29 , Miriam Burrell

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told Cabinet colleagues they must review departmental budgets to find ways of saving taxpayers’ money, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “He made clear public spending would continue to rise overall but that departments continue to be asked to look at finding ways to save taxpayers’ money, with public spending standing at around £1 trillion pounds currently.

“The Chancellor said this work should focus on areas which should not affect the service the public receives.”

The spokesman was speaking after being allowed into the Cabinet meeting for the first time under Liz Truss’s leadership.

Cabinet ministers warned of looming spending cuts

13:13 , Miriam Burrell

The chancellor warned Cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning of the scale of looming spending cuts, the BBC is reporting.

Jeremy Hunt currently preparing tax hikes and spending reductions to be announced at the end of the month.

Mr Hunt is insisting all departments find savings, BBC reports.

A recap: James Heappey threatens to resign

12:48 , Miriam Burrell

Armed forces minister James Heappey said he would resign if Ms Truss reneged on a pledge to raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who has said that “nothing is off the table”, addressed Cabinet this morning over the “difficult decisions” on spending cuts.

A Treasury source said: “Health and defence won’t be exempt from finding savings. No department will be ring-fenced. That message will be delivered to the Cabinet.”

Read more here.

Labour: Govt has ‘no economic plan at all’

12:42 , Miriam Burrell

Sir Keir Starmer said the Government now has “no economic policy” after it “demolished” the mini-budget.

The Labour leader said Jeremy Hunt had “basically undone everything that Liz Truss said she was going to do” as leader, after the new Chancellor announced he was scaling back the energy support package and ditching most of the tax cuts announced by his predecessor.

Sir Keir told the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2: “So they’ve put a mini-budget up a few weeks ago, they’ve now completely demolished that.

“The net result of that… is there is no economic policy and it is odd to, you know, have to come on your programme and say the Government 12 years into office has no economic policy, no economic plan at all.”

83% of Tory members say Truss doing badly

12:21 , Miriam Burrell

In the YouGov poll, 83 percent of Tory members said Liz Truss was doing badly as Conservative leader, compared with just 15 percent who said she was doing well and 2 percent being unsure.

‘She’s lost the plot’: Views from Truss’s constituency

11:39 , Miriam Burrell

People in Liz Truss’s South West Norfolk constituency have said the Prime Minister looks “out of her depth” after six weeks in office.

David Cain, a retired driver for an out-of-hours doctors’ service told PA: “I think she’s out of her depth really. I think they’re just delaying the inevitable.

“I think she’s going to have to resign.”

Retired council worker Heather Cain said Ms Truss is “probably not the right person to lead the country”.

“I just don’t think anybody really can do a good job and it’s going to be really hard to get us out of this,” Ms Cain said.

Retired school careers adviser Gordon McInnes said: “The woman’s lost the plot and we’re going to suffer for some of the stupid U-turns that have been put upon us now.”

Pictured: Cabinet ministers leave Downing St

11:35 , Miriam Burrell

Cabinet meeting ends

11:20 , Miriam Burrell

This morning’s Cabinet meeting appears to have broken up, with climate minister Graham Stuart the first to leave No 10.

Although Jacob Rees-Mogg appeared cheerful, smiling and joking with Sky News reporters, most ministers were grim-faced and refused to say whether they were backing Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Paymaster General Chris Philp, who had smiled at reporters earlier when he made his way into Downing Street, looked serious and avoided eye contact as he walked off.

Pictured: Ministers arrive at Downing St

11:08 , Miriam Burrell

No one thought mini-budget was a ‘bad idea’, minister admits

10:37 , Miriam Burrell

No one in Liz Truss’s top ministerial team thought the mini-budget which unleashed market turmoil was a bad idea.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said that when the ideas were presented to Cabinet by then-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng no one recognised the problems it would cause.

The whole Cabinet had not been consulted on the plans, which included the abolition of the 45p rate of income tax for top earners, but Mr Heappey said minister viewed the mini-budget as “coherent with a desire to drive growth”.

Rees-Mogg says ministers are ‘fully’ behind Prime Minister

10:01 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Jacob Rees-Mogg gave a ringing endorsement of the Prime Minister when he arrived at Downing Street this morning.

While other colleagues were tight-lipped, the Business Secretary appeared delighted to see the reporters opposite No 10, asking: “How are you? Very nice to see you.”

Mr Rees-Mogg said that ministers were “fully” behind Liz Truss, before heading into a Cabinet meeting.

Colleagues were more reticent, with a number ignoring shouted questions about the Prime Minister’s survival.

When asked if Ms Truss would remain in office, Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith offered only a terse “yes” before entering No 10.

Just 10% of British public view Liz Truss favourably, poll shows

09:53 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Liz Truss’s net favourability rating has plunged to minus 70 according to a YouGov survey - a 14-point drop since last week.

Just 10 per cent of Britons had a favourable opinion of the Prime Minister, with 80 per cent viewing her unfavourably.

Among Tory voters her support also continues to plummet: 20 per cent had a favourable view of their party’s leader, with 71 per cent having an unfavourable view.

The Prime Minister’s current net favourability score of minus 51 among Tory voters is down 26 points since last week.

YouGov surveyed 1,724 British adults between October 14 and 16.

More ministers are arriving in Downing Street...

09:17 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Brandon Lewis gave a curt nod to reporters but refused to answer questions when he arrived in Downing Street ahead of this morning’s Cabinet meeting.

The Justice Secretary was driven to the door of No 10 in his ministerial Range Rover.

Attorney General Michael Ellis, wearing a bright turquoise tie, arrived slightly later but opted to walk up the street, greeting a nearby police officer with a “Good morning”.

We must see economic stability or ‘Government has had it’, says Tory MP

08:56 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Conservative MP and former minister Liam Fox says people will be “weighing up” Prime Minister Liz Truss’s apology and suggested the survival of her Government depends on economic stability in the coming days.

Asked how much trouble Ms Truss is in, he told Sky News: “We can all read the polls and I don’t need to tell you what the atmosphere is like at Westminster.

“People will be weighing up what the Prime Minister said last night – that she had made mistakes, that she learned from those, and that the measures that Jeremy Hunt had put in place seemed to be providing the necessary economic stability in the markets.

“If the markets don’t believe that a Conservative Government is able to manage public finances sensibly then that Government has had it.

“So that, really, is the number one priority and I think that most of my colleagues will be looking to see if the measures being put in place have achieved their effect.

“It looks at the moment as though they have. That will take the political temperature down somewhat.”

Ministers begin arriving at No 10 for Cabinet meeting

08:40 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Environment Secretary has arrived in Downing Street ahead of a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Liz Truss.

Ranil Jayawardena appeared in good spirits despite recent political turmoil, smiling and greeting reporters as he walked up to No 10’s black door.

The minister declined to answer shouted questions on how long Liz Truss can survive as Prime Minister.

Removing Truss as PM would lead to ‘great rancour’, says minister

08:37 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Armed forces minister James Heappey has dismissed suggestions a unity candidate to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister would be a viable option for the Government.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If the alternative to rowing in behind the Prime Minister and making a success of her Government is to throw ourselves into another period of great rancour…

“And I really do think it is for the birds, the idea that there is somebody who could emerge and behind whom everybody in the parliamentary party and our membership unites, and the country forgets about everything that has happened for the last 15 months or so and we’re just allowed to get on with it, I just don’t think that is the case.”

The UK is a global laughing stock, says shadow chancellor

08:30 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The UK is a “global laughing stock” and the nation is going “from crisis to crisis” under Liz Truss’s Government, according to Labour’s Rachel Reeves.

“It is not enough just to get through – we should be thriving and leading the world as a country,” the shadow chancellor told BBC Breakfast.

“We have so much great potential to lead in the industries of the future – whether that is hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, floating offshore wind and new nuclear – but we’re not leading because we’re just going from crisis to crisis.

“Labour’s green prosperity plan, our reforms to business rates, our modern industrial strategy, are all policies to ensure that we are global leaders in future, not a global laughing stock.

“After the rebukes that we’ve received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with people looking at gilt yields hour by hour...this is not the sign of a normal G7 economy. This is a sign of an economy and a country that has lost its way.”

Mini-budget was an error but now’s no time for a new PM, says minister

08:16 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Mr Heappey conceded the mini-budget was “unhelpful” to UK finances but insisted now is not the time for a change of leader.

The armed forceds minister told BBC Breakfast: “Nobody is pretending that the mini-budget was anything other than unhelpful to the UK economic circumstance.”

Pressed on why Liz Truss is still Prime Minister, he said: “There are a few colleagues in Parliament who are irreconcilable and the Government needs to work to bring them back into the fold as best we can.

“But the vast majority of colleagues recognise that after the last few months, indeed after the last year when we’ve been going through – all of the angst over Boris Johnson which has divided our party deeply – what we cannot do is reverse the decision of a leadership election that we’ve literally only just completed.”

Armed forces minister: I will quit if Chancellor cuts defence spending

08:14 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Armed forces minister James Heappey said he would quit if new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt backed down on the Government’s defence spending pledge.

Mr Heappey said the Government still backs the spending target, but asked if he would quit in the face of a U-turn, he told LBC: “Yeah.

“But no one has said that 3% is not going to happen by 2030.”

He insisted he would quit if that changed though, saying: “Yeah, we need to be spending 3% of our GDP on defence of our nation by 2030 because there is no prosperity without security.”

Labour calls for windfall tax extension and an end to non-dom tax breaks

08:10 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has reiterated Labour’s calls for an extension of the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and an end to tax breaks for UK residents with a permanent home outside the UK.

When asked about Liz Truss’s apology over her turbulent first few weeks in office on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Reeves said: “The damage has already been done.

“This was a crisis that was made in Downing Street but it is ordinary people who are paying the price with higher mortgage costs and higher borrowing costs.”

When asked what Labour would do differently, she said: “I’ve been saying for weeks that we need to see a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility – the foundation of a strong economy is respect for those economic institutions that underpin it.

“I’ve been saying for months that the Government should extend the windfall tax on the big profits that oil and gas companies are making and use that money, rather that more borrowing and more debt, to support people with the rising cost of living.

“A quite easy decision would be to end the non-dom tax status. That would bring in £3 billion a year - a decision that for whatever reason the Conservatives are just refusing to make.”

Prime Minister was forced into U-turn, admits minister

08:03 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

He conceded Ms Truss was “absolutely” forced into U-turning on her mini budget by the economic chaos it had sparked including the pound nosediving, the cost of Government borrowing rising, and mortage rates also going up.

“Absolutely. I don’t think anybody disputes that,” he told Sky News. “It was forced upon her for two reasons.”

He gave the reasons as the Prime Minister realising she had gone “too far and too fast” with a vast unfunded package of tax cuts, and doing that during a difficult international economic picture.

He apologised “100 per cent” for the mini budget, which he said the Cabinet had backed.

Ms Truss sacked Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor on Friday, replacing him with Jeremy Hunt who on Monday tore up most of the mini budget, including shelving a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax until the public finances can afford it and announcing a review next April on the energy bills package which will see it more targeted to support the less-well-off.

Armed forces minister warns against cuts to defence spending

07:58 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Mr Heappey warned against rowing back on defence spending commitments as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt looks to find savings.

The Prime Minister’s commitment to spend three per cent of GDP on the military by 2030 “must be delivered given the need to keep our nation safe given increasingly uncertain times”, the armed forces minister told Sky News.

“If in the very immediate term there is a requirement to look at what we can do to help the Treasury out, that’s a discussion for the Chancellor to have with the Secretary of State,” he added.

“But I am confident that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary, and frankly everyone else around Government, understands the importance of investing in our nation’s armed forces and our defences at a time when the UK interest at home and abroad is under such threat.”

Prime Minister ‘fronted up to her mistake very quickly’, says minister

07:44 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

James Heappey has defended Liz Truss by saying at least she had apologised quicker than Boris Johnson did when he was prime minister.

The armed forces minister told Sky News Ms Truss had apologised to the public which was “a contrast to a year ago when the previous prime minister’s woes began”.

“She has fronted up to her mistake very quickly and there are people in the parliamentary party who don’t want that to be the end of it.

“But for an awful lot of us we recognise this is a moment when this country needs its Government to knuckle down and get back on with the day job.”

Truss can’t afford to make more mistakes, says armed forces minister

07:40 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Armed forces minister James Heappey conceded Liz Truss is in a perilous position as Prime Minister, saying she cannot afford to make any more mistakes.

The minister, who attends Cabinet and was on the morning broadcast round of interviews on behalf of the Government, was asked by Sky News how many more errors Ms Truss can make.

“I suspect given how skittish our politics are at the moment, not very many,” he said.

Pressed how many, he said: “I don’t think there’s the opportunity to make any more mistakes.”

Good morning

07:23 , Sarah Harvey

Good morning, and welcome to the Standard’s politics blog for Tuesday, October 18. We are expecting another tumultuous day in Westminster. Here is a schedule of what to expect:

Cabinet meeting: Liz Truss will chair a meeting of her Cabinet in Downing Street this morning.

1922 Committee: The influential group of backbench MPs will elect two new MPs to its executive today. It is also possible they could push for rule changes that will make it easier for those wanting to remove Ms Truss.

House of Commons: Sits from 11.30am with justice questions followed by any UQs or statements.

5pm: Liz Truss to address the Tory right at a meeting of the influential European Research Group (ERG).