Liz Truss considering future in politics after losing seat

Ms Truss said she “had a lot to think about” after becoming the first former prime minister to lose their seat at a general election since Ramsay MacDonald in 1935.

Liz Truss leaving the South West Norfolk count (Image: PA)

She said: "I think the issue we faced as Conservatives is we haven’t delivered sufficiently on the policies people want.

“And that means keeping taxes low, but also particularly on reducing immigration.

"And I think that’s been a crucial issue here in South West Norfolk, that was the number one issue that people raised on the doorstep with me."

Asked whether she accepted some responsibility for that, Ms Truss said: "I agree. I was part of that. That’s absolutely true.

"But during our 14 years in power, unfortunately we did not do enough to take on the legacy we’d been left, in particular things like the Human Rights Act that made it very difficult for us to deport illegal immigrants.

"And that is one of the reasons I think we’ve ended up in the situation we are now."

Liz Truss awaits the result alongside the other candidates (Image: PA)

Asked about her own future and if she was thinking of quitting politics, she added: “It has been a very very hectic few weeks… give me a bit of time and I will definitely talk to you again.”

Ms Truss had held the South West Norfolk seat for the Conservatives since 2010.

She had a 26,195 majority after the last election in 2019, but lost her seat to Labour’s Terry Jermy by 630 votes.

The result was expected to be announced at 5.30am but ended up being delayed until almost 7am.

While the other eight candidates waited on the stage for the result to be announced, Ms Truss was nowhere to be seen, before finally emerging to slow hand-claps and a shout of “Has anyone got a lettuce?”

Terry Jermy, the new Labour MP for South West Norfolk (Image: PA)

She shook Mr Jermy’s hand and congratulated him before making a swift exit without making a speech.