Liz Truss has been snubbed by ‘militant’ activists at hustings in Eastbourne

They could be heard shouting “shame on you” and calling for a Green New Deal as they were escorted out of the building.

In a statement, the group criticized Liz Truss’ “shameful role in the cost-of-living crisis.”

“Millions will face huge energy bills this winter while their government supports climate wreckers like BP and billions of dollars in seashell manufacturing,” a spokesman for the group said.

BREAKING: Tonight we faced each other @trussliz to the Tory leadership about their shameful role in the cost of living crisis.

Millions will face huge energy bills this winter while their government supports climate wreckers like BP and Shell making BILLIONS.

Green New Deal now ✊ pic.twitter.com/mP4ufEbQtU

— Green New Deal Rising (@GNDRising) August 5, 2022

Ms Truss described the protesters as “infiltrators” before pledging to crack down on “militant unions” and “unfair protests”.

She told the crowd of a thousand Conservative Party members: “I would legislate immediately to ensure we stand up to militant unions who are preventing ordinary commuters from getting to work. And I would legislate to protect our essential services.

“I will make sure that militant activists like Extinction Rebellion are not able to disrupt normal people who work hard and do the right thing and go to work.

“I will never, ever allow our democracy to be disrupted by unfair protests.”

Another protester was later escorted out while Ms. Truss was in the middle of a question-and-answer session. It is unclear if this protester was part of the same group.

“I take it as a compliment that I’m so popular with Extinction Rebellion,” she joked.

At the hustings, Liz Truss vowed to continue opposing Putin, curbing work from home and going net-zero in ways that “won’t weigh on households and businesses.”

She also said she will ensure the Eastbourne promised hospital is built if she becomes Prime Minister.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak claimed to be the only candidate in the leadership contest who could win the next election for the Conservatives and has criticized Ms Truss’ pro-business proposals.

He said: “The most important thing we need to do this winter is to help people, especially the most vulnerable families, and some of the suggestions you’ve heard elsewhere won’t do that.”

Mr Sunak vowed to protect green spaces by lifting “top-down targets” for new housing, vowing to bring the “radicalism and competence” of the economic response to Covid to all sectors of government and refusing to leave of the European Convention on Human Rights to ensure the success of the government’s migration policy in Rwanda.

A new Conservative Party leader and prime minister will be announced on September 5 following a vote by party members.