Liz Truss joined a notorious bare-knuckle fighter as he launched his new whiskey brand in a bizarre promotional video.
The former Prime Minister looked in great spirits as she waved a bottle of Dougie Joyce’s booze towards the camera as the pair met during an event at Scunthorpe FC just months after he was freed from jail.
After Joyce points to the lens and says, ‘just remember Dougie Joyce loves ya’, Ms Truss, who led the nation for 49 days in 2022, repeats his catchphrase, saying: ‘Liz Truss loves you.’
The ex Conservative leader offers an awkward laugh as the traveller boxer, who attacked a 78-year-old man in a bar in 2022, adds: ‘Just remember that, people, we love you all.’
Ms Truss, 49, could also be seen sitting down next to Joyce during the launch event, which took place at Scunthorpe United’s stadium last month according to a post on the fighter’s Instagram.
Representatives for Ms Truss told The Sun: ‘She attended the event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC.’
‘Liz Truss either doesn’t understand the implications or doesn’t care,’ one source said the newspaper. ‘Either way this is a serious lapse.
‘She’s a former Prime Minister and has to be extremely careful who she associates herself with.
Liz Truss seen in a video with Dougie Joyce as the bare-knuckle fighter owner promoted his new whiskey brand
After Joyce points to the lens and says, ‘just remember Dougie Joyce loves ya’, Ms Truss, who led the nation for 49 days in 2022, repeats his catchphrase while holding a bottle of the booze
‘You have to wonder if anyone did the due diligence.’
A source claimed that the former PM had not been paid to attend the party.
MailOnline has approached representatives of Ms Truss for comment.
Joyce, 36, said on Instagram: ‘It was a great honour to have former Prime Minister as a special guest.
‘Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion.’
Joyce claims to have turned over a new leaf, insisting he is devoting himself to charity work, after being released from prison.
The father-of-three, who once boasted he was ‘the next Tyson Fury’, was jailed for the second time in quick succession in May 2024 after finding himself involved in a violent brawl with a rival family at a wake.
He and his brother Tom, then 27, were convicted after a shocking incident unfolded in the Vine pub in Collyhurst, Manchester.
The former Prime Minister looked in great spirits as she waved a bottle of Joyce’s booze towards the camera just months after he was freed from jail
The ex Conservative leader offers an awkward laugh as the traveller boxer, who attacked a 78-year-old man in a bar in 2023, adds: ‘Just remember that people, we love you all’
Joyce hosted a promotional event at Scunthorpe United’s stadium last month, drafting in the former PM as a guest of honour
Chaos erupted in the pub for about half-an-hour as members of the Joyce and Doherty family clashed in the latest episode of a long-running feud.
The two families had attended the establishment as part of a wake following the death of two young men who were part of the traveller community on October 2, 2020.
Two members of the Doherty family were taken to hospital with ‘significant injuries’, one of whom Tom had struck on the head with a smashed beer bottle.
Dougie was handed a 13-month jail term, while Tom was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Joyce found himself behind bars again last year having already served a 19-month sentence for an attack on an defenseless elderly man
The attack on the 78-year-old pensioner took place in a city centre pub in Manchester in November 2022
Joyce pictured driving in a fancy 4×4 car which he regularly flaunts on social media
He posted training videos on his YouTube channel before he was jailed. He set up 3D Fight Club in 2021
The boxer, who turned down a role on reality TV show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, was already serving a 19-month sentence for causing grievous bodily harm after launching a sickening attack on a 78-year-old man in a pub.
A shocking video of the attack showed the traveller and businessman knock the recently widowed elderly man off his chair with three savage blows, before flooring him again after he got to his feet.
The injuries to the man’s face were exacerbated by the large golden pyramid ring he was wearing.
During his time behind bars, the thug smuggled in a phone to film himself chuckling in his cell.
Ms Truss’s name came up in a somewhat negative context on Thursday as Keir Starmer compared Reform leader Nigel Farage’s economic plans to her infamous 2022 mini-Budget.
Mr Farage has sought to woo working class Labour voters by leaning left with support for scrapping the two-child benefit cap and fully reinstating winter fuel payments.
But he simultaneously backs a series of tax cuts, which left experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies saying there could be an £85billion hole in the maths.
Ms Truss’s name came up in a somewhat negative context on Thursday as Keir Starmer compared Reform leader Nigel Farage’s economic plans to her infamous 2022 mini-Budget
Over the weekend, Ms Truss appeared alongside Hungarian PM Viktor Orban at a press conference
Sir Keir further questioned his ability, pointing out that Mr Farage, the Clacton MP, is currently in Las Vegas to speak at a conference promoting bitcoin.
Speaking in Warrington Sir Keir said: ‘Can you trust him? Can you trust him with your future? Can you trust him with your jobs? Can you trust him with your mortgages, your pensions, your bills?
‘And he gave the answer on Tuesday. A resounding no.’
He added: ‘Apparently (Mr Farage) is in Las Vegas today at a casino, and it’s not a surprise, because he said that the Liz Truss budget in his view was the best since 1986. That shows his judgment.’
Over the weekend, Ms Truss appeared alongside Hungarian PM Viktor Orban at a press conference.
