The political comeback attempt by former Prime Minister Liz Truss has spectacularly backfired, after she provocatively labelled herself a 'master investor' on social media. The ill-advised post, which was swiftly deleted, has been met with a tidal wave of derision from financial experts, political opponents, and victims of her economic policies.
The tweet appeared just days after a damning report from the influential Treasury committee laid the blame for an estimated £10 billion in pension fund losses squarely at her door. The losses were a direct result of the market chaos triggered by her and former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's infamous 'mini-budget' in September 2022.
A Tone-Deaf Boast
Truss's post, which included a link to a promotional interview, was seen as breathtakingly tone-deaf. It ignored the widespread financial devastation caused by her brief tenure in Number 10, which saw mortgage rates soar and the value of the pound plummet.
Shadow City Minister Tulip Siddiq led the criticism, stating the title of 'master investor' was "breathtakingly out of touch with the millions still paying higher mortgages thanks to her disastrous mini-budget". The sentiment was echoed across the financial sector, with many questioning the judgement behind such a claim.
The Legacy of Chaos
The Treasury committee's report provided a brutal assessment of the period. It concluded that the duo were entirely responsible for launching an unfunded fiscal experiment into an already volatile economic environment. Their approach spooked the markets, leading to a crisis that ultimately forced the Bank of England to launch a massive emergency bond-buying programme to prevent a full-blown collapse of the UK's pension industry.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Truss has consistently deflected blame. In her recent interview, she pointed fingers at the Bank of England, the Office for Budget Responsibility, and a "left-wing economic establishment" for her government's failure, refusing to acknowledge any personal responsibility for the fallout.
This latest episode suggests that Liz Truss remains a deeply divisive and controversial figure in British politics, seemingly unwilling to confront the tangible consequences of her actions on the UK economy and its people.
