Therésè Coffey refuses to apologise for economic chaos caused by Liz Truss's 50 days in office

Thérèse Coffey has refused to apologise to the public for the economic chaos caused by Liz Truss.

The close friend and key ally of Truss also revealed that the former PM is taking a "well-deserved" break following a turbulent 50 days in charge of the country.

Truss was forced to resign last week after her mini-budget sent the UK economy into turmoil following a spree of unfunded tax cuts.

The pound plunged to its lowest level ever against the dollar; the Bank of England promised to buy billions of government debt; and the International Monetary Fund warned UK's finances were on an unsustainable path.

However, despite being an important part of Truss's leadership campaign, Coffey rejected a call for an apology on Friday.

Read more: ‘Zombie government’ has made cost of living crisis worse for millions, experts warn

“I’m very confident that the financial situation is one of seriousness, as I’ve explained repeatedly to your listeners," Coffey told LBC.

When pressed on the question of saying sorry, she said: “I don’t believe I owe an apology to your listeners, no - as much as I don’t think you owe me an apology for keeping me late from the next show.”

Last week, Truss apologised for the chaos her mini-budget caused days before she was forced to resign.

Watch: Liz Truss apologises for ‘mistakes’

Truss said she wanted to "accept responsibility and say sorry for the mistakes that have been made."

"I wanted to act... to help people with their energy bills, to deal with the issue of high taxes, but we went too far and too fast. I've acknowledged that," she said.

Coffey also told Sky News on Friday that Truss was taking a "well deserved break" after stepping down.

"I have, of course, been in touch with Liz - and she's a good friend," said the environment secretary. "She's with her family. And I think she is enjoying a well-deserved break."

Read more: Apologies, u-turns and sackings: 7 days of mini-budget chaos which ended Liz Truss's premiership

It comes as Rishi Sunak pledges to "fix" what he has described as "mistakes" made under Truss's premiership.

"I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss, she was not wrong to want to improve growth in this country, it is a noble aim," he said in front of Number 10 in his first speech as prime minister on Tuesday.

"I admired her restlessness to create change. But some mistakes were made."

He added: "And I have been elected as leader of my party, and your Prime Minister, in part, to fix them. And that work begins immediately."

Watch: 'What a mess', says Starmer, as Liz Truss resigns as PM