In the United Kingdom, the Conservative government increasingly weakened

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng, in Birmingham on Monday, October 3, 2022. AP - Aaron Chown

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Economy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng defended his plan to boost growth during a speech to the Conservative Congress on Monday (October 3rd).

A few hours earlier, he gave up one of his flagship measures.

A first admission of failure for the government of Liz Truss.

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With our correspondent in London, 

Marie Boëda

Kwasi Kwarteng did the right thing, according to some elected officials, while others find this back-pedalling embarrassing, as a demonstration of incompetence.

Nadine Dorries, a former minister close to Boris Johnson, who supported Liz Truss during the campaign, called for an early election in the face of " 

general dismay

 ".

The Prime Minister and Kwasi Kwarteng bowed to pressure.

The minister acknowledged this on Monday: “

 It was hard.

I will be frank, I know that the plan presented ten days ago caused some turbulence.

I understand, I understand.

We are listening.

And we listened. 

»

Reducing the income tax of the richest by 45% is therefore no longer relevant.

But in the party, voices are still raised.

►Read also: The United Kingdom waives its tax cut for the richest

Two questions now arise.

Can Kwasi Kwartent stay on as chancellor?

And can Liz Truss avoid defeat by Labor in the next election?

According to a conservative, she will not stay in her post for long.

The party conference opened its doors in a divided and gloomy atmosphere, and this U-turn did nothing to appease.

Crisis in the UK: “I should have prepared the ground better”, admits Liz Truss https://t.co/LbEsFmqHSt pic.twitter.com/8rZp6zlLtr

– RFI (@RFI) October 2, 2022

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  • UK

  • Liz Truss