August 26, 2022
1 min read

Truss unsure is Macron is ‘friend or foe’

Both Truss and her rival candidate Rishi Sunak were asked a series of quickfire questions at the Norwich hustings…reports Asian Lite News

Liz Truss, one of two contenders to become the new UK Prime Minister, has been accused of risking worsened diplomatic relations with France after she said the “jury’s out” on President Emmanuel Macron.

Truss, the incumbent Foreign Secretary, told Conservative Party members at a leadership hustings in Norwich on Thursday that she was undecided as to whether her counterpart in Paris was “friend or foe”.

A number of issues have affected the UK and France in recent months, including boat crossings in the Channel and travel chaos around Dover, which Truss blamed on a lack of staffing by the French authorities.

Both Truss and her rival candidate Rishi Sunak were asked a series of quickfire questions at the Norwich hustings.

TalkTV’s Julia Hartley-Brewer, the event host, asked Truss: “President Macron, friend or foe?”

“The jury’s out,” she responded to loud applause. “But if I become Prime Minister, I would judge him on deeds, not words.”

Sunak had quickly answered “friend” when asked the same question.

Meanwhile, the opposition Labour warned that the comment, which could be seen to risk straining tensions with France, showed a “terrible and worrying lack of judgment”.

Former Conservative minister Gavin Barwell also questioned the remark, tweeting: “You would have thought the Foreign Secretary was aware we are in a military alliance with France.”

The remarks comes after Truss distanced the UK from the prospect of a project of being part of a wider European political community following a meeting between Boris Johnson and the French president in June.

The Elysee Palace insisted that Johnson had expressed interest in the idea, which would see non-EU states such as the UK involved.

Truss denied the UK had ever been on board with such a proposal.

In July, she said delays to the journeys of holidaymakers near Dover were the fault of French authorities and had been “entirely avoidable”.

ALSO READ-Sunak attempts to catch up with Truss at Birmingham  

Previous Story

UN rights chief under pressure over Xinjiang report

Next Story

Bhaichung Bhutia files fresh nomination for AIFF president’s post

Latest from -Top News

Trump’s 51st State Pitch to Canada

The development follows a meeting between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 6, where Trump praised Carney’s political success….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump claimed that he

Azhar Acquittal Sparks Outrage in Bangladesh

Jailed for nearly 13 years for war crimes, Azharul was received by party leaders and activists at the jail gate by his radical supporters….reports Asian Lite News Once accused of committing crimes

Trump Warns Putin: ‘Playing with Fire’

Trump on Sunday made harsh remarks on both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky…reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is “playing with fire”

FS Misri in US to Boost Tech, Trade Ties

The meeting, held in Washington, focused on strengthening existing frameworks and building momentum on key tech and trade initiatives…reports Asian Lite News Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday (India time) met with

Activists Targeted Again in Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Tuesday condemned the enforced disappearance of Baloch leader Ghani Baloch, blaming Pakistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies and Frontier Corps….reports Asian Lite News The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC),
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Fresh protests erupt as French government pushes pension bill without full vote

Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally MPs in

Re-elected Macron vows to be ‘President of all’

The margin of Macron’s win was narrower than five years