Truss promotes whiskey brand of ex-convict fighter

Liz Truss was the guest of honour at the launch event for a whiskey brand founded by a bare-knuckle fighter, months after he was released from prison.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

The former prime minister appeared in a video alongside Douglas Joyce, known as Dougie, who was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm after he assaulted a 78-year-old man inside a pub on Thomas Street, Manchester.

In the video, the boxer says his catchphrase, “just remember Dougie Joyce loves ya”, after handing Ms Truss a bottle of Joyce’s Irish Whiskey.

“Liz Truss loves ya,” the former prime minister added.

It is understood Ms Truss was not paid to attend last month’s event at Scunthorpe United’s stadium, and her spokesperson added: “Liz attended the Scunthorpe event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC. I thought the government believed in the rehabilitation of offenders."

But a source told The Sun that for Ms Truss, plotting a political comeback, “this is a serious lapse”.