Liz Truss’s speech was the highlight of a troubled Tory conference

Liz Truss’s speech was a reminder that she regards ‘freedom’ as the defining Tory value. Her emphasis throughout was on economic growth, and her belief that cutting taxes would help deliver it.

The speech was a straightforward elucidation of what Truss believes: it had an argument. But the challenge for her now is twofold. 

First, obviously, it is to deliver the growth she talked about. Getting through the supply-side reforms that might really make a difference will not be easy – particularly with Tory MPs reluctant to vote for anything controversial given the state of the polls. 

The second is to explain to people how they will benefit from this growth. As the 2016 referendum campaign showed, if people don’t see an upside to growth, they are less interested in it.

This has not been an easy conference for Truss. It has been defined by her U-turn on 45p and cabinet squabbling. But her speech to close it out was, probably, her best moment of the week.