Liz Truss attended as guest of honour at the launch party for convicted bare-knuckle fighter Dougie Joyce’s Irish whiskey brand
Joyce, 36, was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm after he assaulted a 78-year-old man inside a pub on Thomas Street, Manchester.
In a bizarre video, posted on Instagram, the former prime minister can be seen at a dinner party with Joyce.
She can even be heard mimicking his catchphrase, swapping “Dougie Joyce loves ya”, for “Liz Truss loves you” as she holds a bottle of ‘Joyce’s Irish Whiskey’.
Joyce said that Liz Truss had been a “tremendous support” as she spoke with him about the future of business and his brand.
“Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion. I am grateful for her support and the insights she shared, which will undoubtedly inspire us all as we look to 2026 and beyond,” he said.
Sources told The Sun that Liz Truss showed a “serious lapse” in judgement by appearing in the video with Joyce, as she seeks to revive her political career.
“She's a former Prime Minister and has to be extremely careful who she associates herself with,” one source said.
“You have to wonder if anyone did the due diligence.”
When approached by the newspaper, Joyce decline to comment.
A spokesman for Ms Truss said: “She attended the event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC.”
Joyce was sentenced to 19 months in jail for causing grievous bodily harm in October 2023 after he was caught on CCTV assaulting a 78-year-old man.
He followed the victim into a back room of a pub and began shouting and pointing at him, before punching him in the face three times and knocking him off his seat and into the seats next to him, causing him to bleed.
Detective Constable Natalie Hollows of Greater Manchester Police said Joyce was an “aggressive and violent” man, who “intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78-year-old man by carrying out this horrendous assault.”
Joyce was wearing a large pyramid-style gold ring when he punched the man in the face, causing significant injury.
