Liz Truss, who aspires to succeed Boris Johnson as head of the Conservative Party and the British government, attacks the work culture of her compatriots, who should "
work more
", in a conversation that leaked on Tuesday August 16.
“
There is a fundamental problem in the relationship to work
” in the United Kingdom, affirms Liz Truss, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the outgoing government, in this recording published by the daily newspaper
The Guardian
on its website.
“
If we want to become a richer and more prosperous country, this has to change.
But I don't think people are ready to do
it, ”she adds, in this conversation which dates according to the newspaper from the time when she was number two in the Treasury, from 2017 to 2019.
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This recording was released just before a televised meeting organized by the Conservative Party in Perth, Scotland, during which Liz Truss and her latest rival for the leadership of the party, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, are to meet activist questions.
In particular referring to the Brexit vote in 2016, Liz Truss remarks that “
we say that it is Europe that causes these big problems, that it is immigrants, but what we have to do is work harder.
This is not a popular message
”.
For her, the lower productivity of the British results “
in part from a state of mind and an attitude.
It's a matter of work culture, really.
In China it is very different, I can assure you
".
Contacted by AFP on Tuesday, Liz Truss' campaign team did not deny the authenticity of these statements which, however, according to her, "
lack context
".
“
There is a need to increase productivity, which leads to better wages and a better quality of life for workers across the UK
,” the source said.
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The publication of the recording comes as Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are campaigning for the votes of conservative activists - some 200,000 - who have until September 2 to choose their new leader in a postal vote.
The party being in the majority in Parliament, the winner will become Prime Minister, succeeding Boris Johnson who resigned in early July after multiple scandals.
Liz Truss is well ahead in the polls.
The announcement of the result is expected on September 5.