\n<\/p>\n
Kemi Badenoch<\/a> looked bewildered when asked by the BBC<\/a> if former prime minister Liz Truss<\/a> was still a member of the Conservative Party.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The current Tory leader served as the international trade secretary during Truss\u2019s short time in Downing Street in autumn 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But, since unveiling \u00a345bn of unfunded tax cuts in her mini-Budget, subsequently being kicked out of office by her own MPs and then losing her parliament seat in last July\u2019s general election, Truss has become a sore spot for the Conservatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Badenoch\u2019s own shadow chancellor Mel Stride<\/a> took<\/a> aim at the former prime minister in a speech on Thursday, arguing that she had destroyed the party\u2019s reputation for economic competence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n So on Friday, the BBC\u2019s political editor Chris Mason asked Badenoch: \u201cWhy not throw her out of the party?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Badenoch frowned and asked: \u201cIs she still in the party?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWell, you tell me,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWell, you tell me!\u201d Badenoch laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re the one asking the question.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n