The wife of a minister sacked by Liz Truss has called the new prime minister an “imbecile” in a social media post about her husband’s sacking.
Felicity Cornelius-Mercer hit out at the new prime minister, saying the “system stinks” just hours after Mrs Truss launched the reshuffle.
She also said her husband questioned Ms Truss: “Why would you do this, who would be better in this role than me, which of your friends would get the job, you promised a meritocracy?”
And she claims the new Tory leader replied: “I can’t answer that, Johnny.”
Above a picture of a muppet dressed as Mrs Truss during one of the televised debates, she added: “This system stinks and treats people terribly. The best man I know has been fired by an imbecile.’
Earlier Mr Mercer, who did not say who he was backing in the Tory leadership race, said he was “disappointed” to be sacked as veterans affairs minister.
In an apparent side swipe at Mrs Truss, who has been accused of filling her cabinet with a cabal of allies, he said he accepted the prime minister had a “right to reward his supporters”.
In a surprise move, the Plymouth Moor View MP also suggested he could quit the House of Commons. He said: “I have to accept that I will never have the qualities necessary for lasting success in politics as it is now, and to be fair to my wonderful family, I have to consider my future.”
Ms Truss began her cabinet reshuffle by removing supporters of her rival Rishi Sunak, sacking Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps and Steve Barkley. Mr Raab was not expected to stay in government after describing Ms Truss’s tax plans as an “election suicide letter” during the leadership race.
Before she won the keys to Number 10, Conservative MPs called on Ms Truss to unite the party and adopt a “big tent” approach.