Liz Truss U-Turns on Controversial Regional Pay Boards After Tory Backlash
Truss Shelves Pay Board Plans Amid Tory Revolt
Conservative leadership hopeful Liz Truss has ditched her bold plan to introduce regional pay boards after fierce opposition from senior Tories. The policy aimed to save a whopping £8.8 billion by adjusting public sector pay based on location — potentially slashing wages outside London.
But the backlash was swift, with some MPs warning millions of workers could see pay cuts. Just 12 hours after unveiling the idea, Truss’s camp confirmed the plan was dead in the water.
Truss Team Hits Back at ‘Misrepresentation’
A spokesperson slammed claims the campaign would cut public sector wages. “Current levels of public sector pay will absolutely be maintained,” they insisted. “Anything to the contrary is simply incorrect.”
Truss originally promised a “leaner, more efficient Whitehall,” with plans to save £11 billion annually. The regional pay boards were meant to be a key chunk of those savings, allowing pay to reflect local living costs — meaning Northern and South-West workers could earn less than their South-East counterparts.
Tory Dissent and Dangers of a General Election
Some Conservatives were livid. Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, backing rival Rishi Sunak, called the policy “horrifically bad.” He warned a snap election would be “catastrophic.”
A source close to Sunak quipped, “The lady is for turning,” nodding to Margaret Thatcher’s famous phrase. They added that Truss actually supported regional pay boards back in 2018, but now seems to have reversed course under pressure.
The Fallout: Truss Scrutinised as Policy Details Unravel
Houchen said the sudden U-turn shows Truss’s soundbites don’t hold up under scrutiny. “As people start to examine the detail, it unravels quite quickly,” he told the BBC.
With internal Tory tensions rising, Truss faces a tough road ahead if she wants to secure leadership — and prove she can keep her promises.
