FOREIGN secretary Liz Truss was heckled by climate protesters during her opening speech at a leadership hustings.

Five activists from the Green New Deal Rising Group heckled the frontrunner to replace Boris Johnson over climate change and energy bills at the event in Eastbourne this evening.

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

The Argus: A protester interrupts Liz Truss's speech during a hustings event in EastbourneA protester interrupts Liz Truss's speech during a hustings event in Eastbourne

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

“Millions will face huge energy bills this winter, while her government backs climate wreckers like BP and shell making billions,” a spokesman for the group said.

Ms Truss described the protesters as “infiltrators”, before vowing to clamp down on “militant trade unions” and “unfair protests”.

She told the crowd of a thousand Conservative Party members: “I would legislate immediately to make sure that we are standing up to militant trade unions who stop ordinary commuters getting into work. And I would legislate to protect our essential services.

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

“I will never ever, 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 whether that protester was part of the same group.

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

The Argus: Liz Truss during a hustings event in Eastbourne, as part of the campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime MinisterLiz Truss during a hustings event in Eastbourne, as part of the campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister

At the hustings, Liz Truss vowed to continue to stand up to Putin, curb working from home and transition to net zero in a way that “doesn’t clobber households and doesn’t clobber businesses”.

She also said that she would ensure the hospital promised to Eastbourne would be built if she becomes Prime Minister.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak claimed to be the only candidate in the leadership contest who can win the next election for the Conservatives and criticised Ms Truss’s proposals for the economy.

He said: “The most important thing we need to do this winter is help people, particularly the most vulnerable families, and some of the proposals you’ve heard elsewhere are not going to do that.”

The Argus: Rishi Sunak during a hustings event in Eastbourne, as part of the campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime MinisterRishi Sunak during a hustings event in Eastbourne, as part of the campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister

Mr Sunak pledged to protect green spaces by scrapping “top-down targets” on new housing, promised to bring the “radicalism and competence” of the economic response to Covid to all areas of government, and refused to rule out leaving the European Convention on Human Rights to ensure the success of the government’s Rwanda migration policy.

A new leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister will be announced on September 5 following a vote by party members.