‘Best form of flattery!’ Rishi Sunak slams Liz Truss for ‘copy and pasting’ his policies

Liz Truss jokes about her ‘dubious’ past as a Liberal Democrat

Mr Sunak took aim at Ms Truss over a plethora of announcements made by the Foreign Secretary during the race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister. The former Chancellor challenged Ms Truss' plan to introduce “full-fat freeport sites”, review the levelling-up funding formula, ensure transport links are better integrated, cut EU regulations and scrap Soviet-style Whitehall housing targets.

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Mr Sunak's campaign team claim the proposals have either been ripped from the former Chancellor or regurgitated by Ms Truss.

A Ready for Rishi campaign spokesman said: “Not only are Team Truss copy and pasting policies put in place by Rishi himself, but they are also re-announcing two-year-old Government policies.

“Imitation is the best form of flattery, as the saying goes.”

Ms Truss' plan to introduce “full-fat freeports” on brownfield sites, which she claimed will axe “excessive” levels of existing red tape, has been criticised as a “copy and paste” of the work already done by the Brexit-backing former Chancellor.

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‘Best form of flattery!’ Rishi Sunak slams Liz Truss for ‘copy and pasting’ his policies (Image: Getty)

Liz Truss campaigned to stay in the EU but has since said she would back Brexit. (Image: Getty)

Mr Sunak has been considered a prominent supporter of freeports since he penned a report for the Centre for Policy Studies about how they could be used following the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Critics have argued the UK was able to create freeports while in the European Union but experts suggest Britain has more freedom over the flexibilities and tax concessions it can offer since severing ties with the Brussels bloc.

Mr Sunak also flexed his Brexiteer credentials by lambasting Ms Truss' proposals to scrap EU regulations.

The Foreign Secretary, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU before claiming she would now vote to leave the bloc, revealed she would introduce a so-called “sunset clause” on EU-derived legislation if she wins to race to Number 10.

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Around 160,000 Conservative Party members will decide the next Tory leader and Prime Minister. (Image: Getty)

But Sunak's team suggested the Financial Services & Markets Bill, which is designed to bolster the competitiveness of the UK post-Brexit, would help the Government deal with amending retained EU legislation.

Away from Brexit, Mr Sunak claimed Ms Truss' proposal to scrap Soviet-style planning targets can be traced back to ex-Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in 2010.

Responding to the allegations against the Foreign Secretary, a Truss-supporting Tory MP told Express.co.uk the former Chancellor’s campaign had become “desperate”.

They added: “Talk is cheap. Only Liz will do what it takes to get our economy going, unite the party and stop Starmer.”

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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss addressing Tory Party members in Eastbourne. (Image: Getty)

A Sunak campaign spokesman said: “”Imitation is the best form of flattery, as the saying goes.” (Image: Getty)

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