Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sean McPolin

Liz Truss effigy burned to the ground during Bonfire Night event in Kent

A huge effigy of former Prime Minister Liz Truss, complete with a laughing lettuce on her shoulder, has been burned at a Bonfire night event.

Ms Truss was chosen as the celebrity Guy by the Edenbridge Bonfire Society after her short 44-day stint in No.10.

The lettuce is seen crying with laughter while the Truss figure is seen holding a goodbye card, a copy of her mini-budget and a T-shirt with the slogan “I’m a fighter not a quitter”.

She is also holding a Guinness World Records book in a nod to her shortest ever stint as Prime Minister.

On Saturday, November 5, hundreds of people watched on as the large Liz guy went up in flames.

Explaining the decision behind choosing Ms Truss, The Bonfire Society said: “We have a lettuce sitting on her shoulder. She has our beautiful Clare’s accessories necklace and is carrying her box of what she is taking with her.

The 11-metre effigy was burnt to the ground in Edenbridge, Kent, on November 5 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Edenbridge Bonfire Society celebrity guy, Liz Truss, was set on fire in front of hundreds (PA)

“She’s got a copy of the Guinness World Records as she was the shortest ever in UK history.

“Thank goodness she has her mini budget because that did not go down well so she’s taking that with her.

“It has taken our fabulous artist a week to design this and then with our team of volunteers to build it.

“It’s a mammoth project.”

Previous infamous celebrities to get the Edenbridge treatment include ex-US President Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Katie Hopkins, Lance Armstong and Wayne Rooney.

Hundreds watched on for the famous Bonfire night celebration (AFP via Getty Images)
Prime Minister Liz Truss was unveiled as the Edenbridge guy last week (NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

It comes after it was reported Liz Truss ’ personal phone was ‘hacked’ by spies suspected of working for Vladimir Putin .

Yesterday, Mirror Online's opinion writer Rachel Bletchley explained her shock at seeing the effigy of Liz Truss.

She said: "I was genuinely disturbed to see the 11-metre tall figure of Liz Truss built by a bonfire society in Kent.

"Especially as I recently re-watched 1970s horror classic The Wicker Man – a terrifying film which shows how fear of “other” can fan the flames of hatred and intolerance and drive a primal desire for vengeance.

"We live in a time of cancel culture and fake news, where politicians and their families are attacked and murdered for their views.

"So while I disagree with ­almost everything Liz Truss stands for, I ­respect her right to free speech.

"And I don’t think we should be burning her image when it’s her arguments and policies that need to go up in smoke."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.