On Monday, the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom announced that Liz Truss was their new leader. She will take over as Prime Minister from Boris Johnson, who remained in the post till the election were held. On Tuesday, Boris Johnson is expected to meet Queen Elizabeth II, at Balmoral in Scotland, following which Liz Truss will meet the Queen.
The last few months of Boris Johnson’s administration was beset with scandals and problems. Liz Truss will be taking over at a tough time in the history of Britain as well as the Conservative Party’s popularity but Truss has spoken firmly against early elections. The economy is in tatters and inflation is at an unprecedented high of 10.1 percent. Workers have been striking and unions have also indicated that they would greet the new Prime Minister Liz Truss with a strike.
Liz Truss, who was the Foreign Secretary under the tumultuous leadership of Boris Johnson, comfortably beat rival Rishi Sunak, who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer and had resigned before Boris Johnson was forced to step down. She won the ballot with a comfortable 81,326 votes while Rishi Sunak got 60,399 votes. Her 57-42 margin was obtained after a long fought seven week contest and will become the 56th Prime Minister.
Liz Truss expressed her esteem for Boris Johnson by saying that he was “admired from Kyiv to Carlisle.” She also spoke of what she was planning to deliver in what she hopes will be a minimum two-year tenure. She spoke of a “bold plan to cut taxes.” She also mentioned that she would focus on the growth of the economy.
She mentioned dealing with the energy bills of the people which are set to increase as winter looms as well as long term energy supply problems that need to be tackled. Liz Truss also spoke of delivering “on the NHS.”
Liz Truss, who is said to be a free-market Tory, became a Member of Parliament in 2010. The 47-year will be the third woman Prime Minister of the U.K., following two other conservatives: Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. She will be the fourth Prime Minister from the Conservative Party (the Tories) in a little more than six years. The next general elections in the U.K. will be held before the end of 2024.
Macron to present ‘well-behaved’ horse to Queen Elizabeth II, France to light up coastal buildings and more
