In the chaos of the Tory conference after ministers were NOT notified of Liz Truss’ U-turn and found out about it on Sun’s website

CABINET ministers sat around phones in the early hours of Monday morning in a luxury hotel suite, glued to The Sun’s website.

Our great reveal that Liz Truss had jettisoned her controversial dream to 45p tax rate exploded Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.

Liz Truss U-turned her controversial dream to abolish the 45p tax rate

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Liz Truss U-turned her controversial dream to abolish the 45p tax rateCredit: Reuters
Chancellor was humiliated with warnings that his mini-budget would be voted out by MPs

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Chancellor was humiliated with warnings that his mini-budget would be voted out by MPsCredit: Getty

But our story, revealed at 12:20 p.m., came as a shock to some of the oldest members of government.

Four ministers were enjoying drinks late at night when our story came out – they were speechless.

No one from No. 10 had warned them.

After a relentless day of insults from great beasts of the Tory party and stern warnings to her mini budget would be voted out by the MPs, the new PM was forced into a humiliating climb down.

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Former Ministers Grant ShappsJulian Smith, Michael GoveMel Stride and Damian Green – who all supported Rishi Sunak – had fueled the uprising all day and was confident that more than 40 MPs backed their concerns.

Sir Graham Bradythe president of the mighty 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, was to see a concerned Mrs Truss at 7 p.m. to warn her she didn’t have the numbers to push through her tax cut plans parliament — despite a majority of 71.

And her shrieking turn would come as a shock… the chancellorwho was about to eat a beef curry at a fancy restaurant on the other side of town.

He left his dinner before his main course showed up, rushed back for crisis talks with trusswho told him, “It’s time to tear off the plaster.”

After days of what he later called “huge distractions,” it was time to ditch the hated policies — and with them, a huge amount of political capital.

Immediately agree, the chancellor said a climb down would relieve the conference pressure cooker environment, which had been blown off course by the queue.

Once on board, mr quarteng was told he should be the face of surrender the next day.

But it was a painful blow, as he had already made his big speech to the conference in the papers the next day, insisting that there would be no U-turns and saying, “We have to stay on course.”

As he took to the podium for that speech Monday afternoon, an exasperated chancellor said, “What a day.”

The mood among some ministers is one of despair over the state of the Tory party, which is in danger of becoming unmanageable.

And that, in turn, will render the government unable to actually rule, leaving the country adrift at the worst possible time.

There are potential mutineers everywhere truss running.

NOTHING TO LOSE

After 12 years of Tory rule, more than 50 sacked and embittered ex-ministers have not much to lose.

This is a group of MPs who served under Theresa May and stay mad at her Brexit demise.

Then there are supporters of Rishi Sunakwho enjoy the ‘I told you so’ moment.

Some still think it’s possible to kill Truss now and have Rishi anointed in a coronation.

Throw in the still ongoing Brexit wars – Truss, converted from Remainis firmly in the Remainiac crosshairs – and it’s a toxic, chaotic mix.

A cabinet minister said: “They took Boris’ baton, broke it into pieces and gave it to the various warring factions to beat each other with. It’s like Lord of the Flies.”

The question swirling around Birmingham is whether the various rebel camps will now pull out and let Truss try to stabilize her premiership – or just continue?

Only the extreme optimists think the former will happen – meaning most or all Trusses major reforms could be jeopardized.

In short, ministers think the great danger is that propelling Truss on, unable to do much of anything, while a… cost of living crisis rages and the economy stagnates.

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“All is not lost yet,” said a minister.

“A week is long. We have two years to turn this around. We may not win the next election, but at least we can make ourselves competitive.”

Eight Government U-turns

TED HEATH’S 1970 ELECTION MANIFEST

The Tory Prime Minister promised to cut government spending, but strikes and high unemployment led to a widespread increase in spending.

POLL TAX AXED 1991

Margaret Thatcher’s Community Charge – also called Poll Tax – sparked riots. Many blamed her for her downfall. Successor John Major deleted it.

10P TAX IN 2007

Gordon Brown caused outrage by abolishing the 10p starting income tax rate and was forced to spend £3bn to compensate those affected.

TUITION FEES INCREASES

Lib them leader Nick Clegg promised in 2010 that he would not raise tuition fees. But in a coalition with the Tories, he brought them up to £9,000 a year.

PIE TAX IN 2012

Chancellor George Osborne tried to introduce 20 percent VAT on hot takeaways. There was a public outcry.

DEMENTIA TAX, 2017

Theresa May revealed plans that would have made many worse off when it comes to paying for care. She had to water down her plan.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Soccer player Marcus Rashford led protests against plans to limit access to free school meals during holidays. Tory MPs forced a change.

CHRISTMAS CANCELED

P.M Boris Johnson said families could meet on Christmas Day 2020 amid the pandemic — only to change their mind.

The Sun revealed the U-turn of the tax at 12:20 p.m., which came as a shock to most senior members of government

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The Sun revealed the U-turn of the tax at 12:20 p.m., which came as a shock to most senior members of governmentCredit: Getty