Liz Truss calls British workers 'lazy' and says they lack 'skill and application': Report

Liz Truss, who is one of the Tory leadership frontrunners, is accused of labelling British workers "lazy". Quoting leaked audio that was released Tuesday, media outlets reported that Truss said that the British workers needed "more graft" and also suggested that they lacked the "skill and application" of foreign rivals.

The two-minute audio clip is apparently quite old. Reports say that it is dated when was a senior minister in the finance ministry between 2017 and 2019.

In the video, Truss said that the workers' "mindset and attitude" were partly to blame for the UK's relatively poor productivity.

The recording, obtained by The Guardian newspaper, revealed Truss as saying: "It's working culture basically" and added that British workers needed "more graft".

"If you go to China it's quite different, I can assure you. There's a fundamental issue of British working culture... I don't think people are that keen to change," she said.

The leak has the potential to jeopardise Truss' campaign as she leads rival Rishi Sunak in numerous polls in the race to become Conservative leader and then the prime minister.

In the leaked audio, Truss also appeared to suggest the European Union and migration are unfairly criticised. Notably, she had backed remaining in the bloc during the divisive 2016 referendum, before subsequently becoming a Brexit supporter.

She said, "We say it's all Europe that's causing all these problems. It's all, 'it's migrants that's causing problems'. But actually what needs to happen is, you know, a bit more graft." She added, "it's not a popular message".

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