Truss defends her record as she leaves No 10 for the final time

Despite her economic policies being resoundly rejected by the markets, and many of her MPs, Ms Truss doubled-down on her plans for growth, saying that her time in Downing Street had only strengthened her belief that her way was the right way.

“From my time as Prime Minister, I am more convinced than ever we need to be bold and confront the challenges that we face,” she said during her final speech outside No 10.

“As the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”

“We simply cannot afford to be a low growth country where the government takes up an increasing share of our national wealth.”

Laying down the gauntlet for her successor, Rishi Sunak, she said that the UK needs to deliver “ lower taxes, so people keep more of the money they earn” and that it must “continue to strengthen our nation’s defences”.

Ms Truss said that during her time as prime minister she had four achievements, most important of all to “lead the nation” in the mourning of the Queen.

In her speech she said that she delivered the energy bailout for families and businesses, reversed the rise in National Insurance and started work to make the UK energy independent.

“Our country continues to battle through a storm,” she said.

“But I believe in Britain.I believe in the British people. And I know that brighter days lie ahead.”

As she came to the end of her speech, Ms Truss said that was “looking forward to spending more time in my constituency, and continuing to serve South West Norfolk from the backbenches”.

This will now see three former prime ministers on the Tory backbenchers watching Mr Sunak lead from the dispatch box.

Leaving Downing Street, Ms Truss was driven to Buckingham Palace to formally tender her resignation to the King, and was later joined by her husband Hugh O’Leary and their daughters, Frances, 16, and Liberty, 13 for Ms Truss’ final audience with him.

Her record in office was yesterday attacked by opposition parties as she returned to the backbenches.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday published a dossier covering Liz Truss 50-day premiership, which it claimed saw over 930,000 people see their mortgages rise due to the mini-budget, NHS waiting lists grow by 170,000 and 6.2 million wait over two weeks for a doctor’s appointment.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper MP said “From soaring mortgage rates to NHS services on the brink, the past 50 days of Conservative chaos have done irreparable damage to our country.

“The Conservatives chose to put Liz Truss in Downing Street without giving the public a say, and cheered her Budget which trashed the economy and the public finances.

“Now we have another out of touch Prime Minister handpicked by Conservative MPs, with no plan to deal with this mess.

“The country cannot afford any more months of Conservative chaos and incompetence, while the huge challenges facing the country go unaddressed. We need a general election, we need the Conservatives out of power and we need real change.”

Meanwhile Labour attacked Ms Truss’ lack of an apology to the public for the effect that her time in office had on their finances.

Anneliese Dodds, the shadow women and equalities secretary, said: “I think many people in the country will be very upset actually by the words of the former prime minister.”

The Labour Party chair said there was “no acknowledgement of the depth of the economic damage done” under Ms Truss’s leadership in her final address to the nation.