Weakened Truss pledges to 'stay the course' on tax

STORY: Addressing Conservative lawmakers and members at an annual conference overshadowed by internal bickering and policy confusion, Truss sought to reassure investors that her plan would reignite growth and unite a divided country.

An early interruption from protesters asking who had voted for such radical change appeared to fire up the prime minister, and the audience.

The conference, once expected to be Truss's crowning glory after she became prime minister on Sept. 6, has turned into a personal nightmare after she announced a new economic policy that sparked a crisis of confidence among investors.

Forced to reverse the scrapping of the top rate of tax, Truss was then openly challenged by lawmakers and ministers over other policy areas, in stark contrast to the sense of discipline on display last week at a conference of the opposition Labour Party, which now holds a clear lead in the opinion polls.