Her premiership may have come crashing to the ground in just weeks along with the economy.

But former prime minister Liz Truss was soon flying high again, spending more than 70 days in the last year jetting around the world to engagements.

Yet she insists she hasn't neglected her South West Norfolk constituency, despite claims from James Bagge, the man who hopes to unseat her in the forthcoming election that voters feel "let down and unrepresented" by Ms Truss as their member of parliament.

Eastern Daily Press: James Bagge, who plans to stand against Liz Truss at the next electionJames Bagge, who plans to stand against Liz Truss at the next election (Image: Newsquest)

Throwing down the gauntlet, he said: "She appears to have put her political ambition above the interests of local people."

 

TAKING FLIGHT

Ms Truss's foreign excursions are all logged in the register of MPs' financial interests, which is a matter of public record.

As well as the destination and duration of each trip, the register records how much they cost and who paid for them.

Overseas jaunts included a £20,000 trip between February 1 - 5 paid for by a mysterious political organisation to attend a secretive meeting on a privately-owned island in the US.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Truss announces her resignation as Prime Minister in October, 2022Liz Truss announces her resignation as Prime Minister in October, 2022 (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The Green Dragon Coalition, which was behind it, pledges to "take a stand and fight for the foundational values that made America great".

Weeks later, between February 21 - 24, Ms Truss attended another US event, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), in Maryland, where she was joined by several right wing political figures.

She came under fire for comments she made there, including claims her short stint in Downing Street was  "sabotaged" by the "administrative state and the deep state".

Eastern Daily Press: An extract from the MPs register of interests, logging trips to Washington and HonoluluAn extract from the MPs register of interests, logging trips to Washington and Honolulu (Image: Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards)

Ms Truss, a member of staff, her husband and two children also flew to Washington DC, between April 11 and 16, 2023.

Some £7,600 towards the cost of the trip was paid for by the Heritage Foundation, according to the register, which says the purpose of the visit was to "deliver the Margaret Thatcher Freedom lecture".

Ms Truss and her husband flew to Honolulu From May 7 - 12 of that year, with Pacific Forum International paying £17,912 towards flights and accommodation.

The register notes the purpose of the visit as "attendance at a Pacific Forum meeting on freedom and democracy".

 

COVERING 'IMPORTANT ISSUES'

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Truss arrives for a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn in March, 2023Liz Truss arrives for a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn in March, 2023 (Image: Denise Bradley)

A spokesman for Ms Truss said she had been working in Westminster and Norfolk for the equivalent of 26 of the 31 weeks covered by our analysis when parliament was in session.

He added: "She worked overseas for five weeks during this period in visits to places like Washington DC and Taipei, covering important issues such as securing backing for Ukraine and calling out China's belligerence towards Taiwan.

"As a former prime minister and foreign secretary, she has an influence which she wants to use to fight for freedom and democracy. This is important given the threats we face.

READ MORE: Liz Truss drags Norfolk pubs into 'war on woke'

“The vast majority of Liz’s time is spent serving in parliament and working in Norfolk where she has recently helped secure a new hospital at the Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn, a new banking hub in Downham Market, as well as £20m to improve public infrastructure in Thetford.

"She visits businesses, schools and other organisations across the South West Norfolk constituency."

 

GLOBE-TROTTING ITINERARY

April 11 - 16, 2023

USA to deliver Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture in Washington DC

May 7 - 12, 2023

Honolulu to attend Pacific Forum meeting on freedom and democracy

May 14 - 15, 2023

Denmark to attend Copenhagen Democracy Summit on NATO

May 15 - 20, 2023

Taiwan to meet Taiwanese ministers and President to support the free democracy ot Taiwan

October 9 - 14, 2023

USA to deliver speech in Utah

November 27 - December 6, 2023

USA to attend political meetings and events

Eastern Daily Press: An entry from the register of MPs' financial interests regarding the skiing trip to SwitzerlandAn entry from the register of MPs' financial interests regarding the skiing trip to Switzerland (Image: Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards)

January 2 - 6, 2024

Switzerland for 68th Annual British-Swiss Parliamentary ski week and meetings with Swiss politicians

February 1 - 5, 2024

USA to attend political conference

February 10 - 20, 2024

USA for skiing and meetings

February 21 - 24, 2024

USA for Conservative Political Action Conference

 

CLOSER TO HOME

Eastern Daily Press: From left, county councillor Chris Dawson, Stephen Brighton, Liz Truss and Mark Brighton at Bearts of StowbridgeFrom left, county councillor Chris Dawson, Stephen Brighton, Liz Truss and Mark Brighton at Bearts of Stowbridge (Image: Chris Bishop)

Recent engagements Ms Truss has attended in or regarding South West Norfolk  include:

A visit to Bearts of Stow Bridge, to discuss energy costs and how the business could expand

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of community-run pub the King's Arms at Shouldham

Canvassing with Conservatives in Outwell

A "policy chat" with party members at the Hare Arms, at Stow Bardolph

Speaking to Downham Market women about ovarian cancer

Objecting to National Grid's proposals for a pylon line across the region

Voting against the government's proposed ban on smoking for people born after 2008

Promoting her book, 10 Years to Save the West