Liz Truss was ‘not afraid of being unpopular’ with controversial PMQ tactic

Liz Truss raised a few eyebrows with her ‘confident and aggressive’ performance in her first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

The new Tory leader faced a grilling from across the Labour and SNP benches today as she was probed on the cost of living crisis.

Striking a conciliatory tone, she promised to work with MPs across the House to tackle ‘the challenges we face’, at a ‘vital time for our country’.

Earlier this week, Ms Truss’s first speech to Tory party members as Prime Minister was said to have lacked any ‘emotional connection’.

But Lawrence Bernstein, an expert in speechwriting, said a transformation seemed to have occurred.

And it wasn’t just viewers surprised by her steady performance, but also her opponents.

‘I’m talking performance, not politics of course – but as a whole it was very positive,’ Mr Bernstein told Metro.co.uk.

‘She finds if easier to go up against a common enemy, she did not enjoy the subtlety involved in fighting with her own side.

‘Now she has an entire party behind her.

‘Keir Starmer came across like he was positioning himself as amicable and respectable. He might have hoped Liz would have come across equally passive.

‘But there was a surprising amount of electricity and thinking on her feet. There was clear water between her and Starmer.

‘He was expecting a gentle rally but she came back with aggressive serves and volleys.’

When questioned , Ms Truss openly rejected the idea of using a windfall tax on the bumper profits made by oil and gas giants.

Her definitive answer could prove to be a good tactic for future PMQs, Mr Bernstein mused.

The transparency was a departure from ‘bluster’ usually associated with answers.

‘She came across as incredibly calm, very clear, firm and coherent without being aggressive’, Mr Bernstein said.

‘She had a clear message and she conveyed it

‘Keir asked about windfall tax and she gave a really clear answer and that is really rare for PMQs. She is not afraid of being unpopular.’

Ms Truss’s public speaking could face further transformation during her time in Downing Street.

Mr Bernstein, who analyses speech writing as ‘an art form’ rather than from a political point of view, says her real test will come in October’s Tory party conference.

‘Time will tell,’ he added.

‘I doubt she’s had any special training over the last 24 hours. But she went from quite wooden to confident today – so something has changed.’

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