Former PM Liz Truss helps notorious bare-knuckle fighter launch his new whiskey in bizarre promo video - just months after he was freed from jail
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 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 for a few drinks during the launch event, which took place at Scunthorpe United's stadium last month according to a post on the fighter's Instagram.
A source told The Sun that the former PM had not been paid to attend the party.
'Liz Truss either doesn't understand the implications or doesn't care,' one source said. 'Either way this is a serious lapse.
'She's a former Prime Minister and has to be extremely careful who she associates herself with.
'You have to wonder if anyone did the due diligence.'
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.'
MailOnline has approached representatives of Ms Truss for comment.
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 handed the sentences for violent disorder by Manchester Crown Court after a shocking incident unfolded in the Vine pub in Collyhurst, Manchester.
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.
Prosecutors explained how trouble began at about 5pm, as footage from the pub showed signs of conflict and verbal rows before it turned violent about 20 minutes later, with two groups of about 10 young men forming distinct groups.
At one point Tom grabbed a bottle of beer inside the pub and smashed it, before wielding it and striking a member of the Doherty family to the face with it in the pub car park, the court heard.
The victim could be seen 'covered in copious amounts of blood', before Tom was then assaulted by others.
Dougie also smashed a bottle in the build up, but did not use it and dropped it. Instead, he armed himself with a plastic pipe and threw it at another man, prosecutor Constance Halliwell said.
The injured men were bundled into a car and taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary. They refused to provide statements to police and were interviewed the following year, providing no comment to questions.
Dougie was handed a 13-month jail term, while Tom was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
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.
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.
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