Liz Truss is “enjoying a well-deserved break” after resigning six weeks into her premiership.
The environment secretary Therese Coffey told Sky News that the former prime minister is spending time with her family after her chaotic time in office.
Asked how Ms Truss is doing, Ms Coffey said: “I have, of course, been in touch with Liz and she’s a good friend. She’s with her family. And I think she’s enjoying a well-deserved break.”
Ms Truss became the UK’s shortest serving prime minister in modern British history after resigning just 44 days into the job.
She succeeded Boris Johnson on 6 September after defeating Rishi Sunak in the summer leadership race with a promise of tax cuts to boost growth.
But this proved to be her undoing after her mini-budget caused turmoil in the financial markets and sent the pound crashing.
Ms Coffey, who was health secretary and deputy prime minister under Ms Truss, said the ex-PM is now spending “good quality time” with her husband and children after what has “clearly” been a “high tempo time” for them.
“I’m pleased that they’re getting that time together,” she told BBC Breakfast.
“I look forward to Liz returning – and as she said, she’d be serving the people of her constituency, South West Norfolk, from the backbenches.
“I believe that she will continue to be a strong advocate of key Conservative principles. I look forward to seeing her again when she’s come back from her short break with her family.”
On Tuesday, Ms Truss used her farewell speech in Downing Street to stress the need to be “bold” as she defended the tax-cutting agenda that triggered economic chaos and ultimately led to her demise.
Watched by Ms Coffey and a small group of aides, she said she had acted “urgently and decisively” to support families and businesses, including overturning a rise in national insurance introduced by Mr Sunak when he was chancellor.
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But her departing words were criticised for making no reference to the damage caused by her economic policies during her brief time in office.
Speaking to LBC radio, Ms Coffey said she believes she does not owe people an apology for the economic chaos caused by Ms Truss’s government.
Asked if she felt she should say sorry for the impact on the country’s finances, she said: “I’m very confident that the financial situation is one of seriousness, as I’ve explained repeatedly to your listeners.
“The aftershock of COVID, the impact of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine – they’ve all been challenging times. And we need to continue to try and grow our economy so that we can have that prosperity in our country.”
Pressed on the question she said: “I don’t believe I owe an apology to your listeners, no, as much as I don’t think you owe me an apology for keeping me late from the next show.”
