15 March 2024 , 11:36
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Liz Truss accepted a £20,000 trip from an unknown mysterious US group with potential links to Donald Trump.
The former PM stayed at a five-star hotel called The Cloister on the private Sea Island off the coast of Georgia, US, in February. The event was organised by the Green Dragon Coalition and advertised as a "small gathering of the great minds of today”.
In the register of members' interests, Ms Truss, who is the Tory MP for South West Norfolk, recorded an approximately £19,541 donation "to attend a political conference". This was made up of £14,871 on flights and £4,670 on accommodation for herself and a staff member. The dates of the visit were from February 1-5.
There is little known about the Green Dragon Coalition but it says on its website it "values selfless leaders who prioritize their nation's welfare over personal re-election ambitions". It says it aims to empower individuals with "the courage to resist the 'swamp'" and that its "ideal candidates embody limited government, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility in their personal and professional endeavours".
Its website also features a photo of Mike Lee, a Republican Senator for Utah, who has endorsed Donald Trump to return as US President. During the Trump presidency, Mr Lee became closer to the then-President and has since been accused of promoting a conspiracy theory about the January 6 Capitol riots.
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Ms Truss, who crashed the economy with her unfunded tax cuts as PM, recently sparked controversy at CPAC, a separate right-wing conference in DC. The ex-PM was criticised after she stayed silent in an interview where Tommy Robinson was called a "hero" and claimed the "deep state" sabotaged her plans as PM.
Chair of the Labour Party Anneliese Dodds accused Mr Truss of "propagating conspiracy theories" and "associating with individuals who have actually praised the far right in our country". Labour called on the Rishi Sunak to remove the Tory whip from the disgraced ex-PM but he failed to take any action.
Labour's prospective candidate for South West Norfolk, Terry Jermy, told the BBC: "Time and time again Liz Truss demonstrates that her priority is not South West Norfolk. Whether it be this latest trip to the USA where she was spreading conspiracy theories or making previous lucrative paid speeches around the world. Residents are telling me time and again they want an MP focused on their concerns and challenges, not someone distracted by the bright lights of the world stage."
The invite to the more recent Green Dragon Coalition event said: "We invite you to a small gathering that will include some of the great minds of today – the creative visionaries, influential authors, educators, entrepreneurs, and political luminaries – to assemble again, and put into motion a restoration of the constitutional principles that gave rise to a uniquely American culture of civic responsibility and unlimited economic opportunity."