A Kent MP insists his constituents are "very pleased" with the performance of the new Prime Minister despite the tumultuous reaction to her "growth plan".

Damian Collins, the Conservative member for Folkestone and Hythe, was asked for his take on Liz Truss and the response to her Chancellor's mini-budget while at the Tory party conference in Birmingham this lunchtime.

Speaking to reporter Sarah Montague on Radio 4's The World at One, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport rowed in behind his beleaguered leader.

"A really quick question, I can walk with you, I can walk with you," the BBC journalist said.

"We are just asking about unity, because you'll know the difficulties of the last couple of days. How much of a problem is it?"

To which Mr Collins replied: "I think it's always interesting to talk to the party members who are here at the conference - it's their conference - and from my constituents who are here.

"They are very pleased with the Prime Minister - very pleased with the direction she is taking the party and the country in."

Ms Montague then queried this assertion. To which Mr Collins said: "They are - I think actually it's a very harmonious conference, when you talk to the delegates who are here."

Asked about the mood among fellow MPs, he backed the Prime Minister to make it to the next election, saying it would be "unthinkable" for the party to change leader.

His remarks were immediately picked up on by local opponents, with the Folkestone and Hythe Labour Party tweeting: "Not sure Damian Collins is reading the mood music."

It has been a turbulent week for the new Tory leadership, after Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's fiscal statement announcing a dramatic package of tax cuts causing turbulence in the financial markets.

Yesterday he announced a u-turn over the axing the top rate of tax, leading to awkward questions for the Prime Minister as to whether her neighbour in Downing Street still retains her trust.

Two of Mr Collins' fellow Conservative MPs in Kent have also raised doubts about proposals to not put welfare payments up by the rate of inflation.

Sir Roger Gale, who represents North Thanet, warned "you don't protect the vulnerable by cutting benefits".

Ashford MP Mr Green said to make hard-up families "struggle even more does not seem a sensible thing to do".