Truss delivers a new common enemy to fractured Tory party

Embattled PM warns of 'stormy days' and tries to unite MPs in opposition to 'anti-growth coalition'

- Pippa Crerar

Liz Truss attempted yesterday to unite her party around a common enemy of the "anti-growth coalition" of trade unions, remainers and green campaigners after a turbulent Tory conference that left her party divided and her leadership in peril.

After a fractious four-day gathering in Birmingham, the prime minister pledged to get the country "through the tempest" of the winter economic crisis by pressing on with her economic plan for growth despite the "disruption" it risked unleashing.

Amid dire polling, Conservative MPs put her on notice with warnings that if she radically diverged from the party's electoral mandate in coming months she risked being ousted at next spring's local elections, the first electoral test of her tenure at No 10.

"These are stormy days," Truss admitted as she sought to revive her faltering leadership. "In these tough times we need to step up. I am determined to get Britain moving, to get us through the tempest and put us on a stronger footing as a nation." However, the party returns to 8 →→ Westminster still reeling from the fall-out of the mini-budget, which undermined its reputation for economic competence, while a major U-turn over the 45p top rate of income tax prompted by a rebellion has weakened her authority.

After the speech, Downing Street suggested Tory whips would take steps to ensure ministers were more disciplined after a week of splits resulting in the Truss's allies accusing some MPs of trying to launch a coup.

"There's always going to be differences of opinion between people, people are entitled to their personal opinions," her press secretary added. "But they should be raised in a more constructive manner.

"Collective responsibility is the same as it always has been."