"No need for Truss to apologise to Macron for not saying whether he was friend or foe" - Donelan

Liz Truss is due to meet Emmanuel Macron, the French president, at the UN this afternoon. It will be their first proper meeting since she scandalised mainstream diplomatic opinion during the Tory leadership contest by refusing to say whether she considered him a friend or foe. The response from Macron was seen as considerably more statesmanlike, Qazet.az reports.

Michelle Donelan, the culture secretary, was asked about Truss’s comment this morning. She could have said said that Truss was just making a joke, but it is never wise to contradict the boss and instead Donelan defended what Truss said. Asked if Truss should apologise to Macron, Donelan told Times Radio:

Well, absolutely not. The prime minister is entitled to make comments on any topic she should see fit to do so. So I don’t think she needs to apologise.