Skip to main content

Politics

Following Thatcher and May, conservative Liz Truss emerges as Britain's new Prime Minister

She will become Britain’s third female prime minister on Tuesday, a successor to the legacies of conservative female leaders Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May

September 5, 2022 10:02am

Updated: September 5, 2022 10:04am

Liz Truss, a renown British conservative known for her strong, hawkish approach as a foreign policy diplomat was selected Monday to lead the country by Britain’s Conservative Party.

The 47 year old member of British Parliament defeated Rishi Sunak, a former chancellor of the Exchequer to succeed former Boris Johnson after he resigned in the wake of mounting pressure from fellow conservatives who were concerned about various internal controversies

She will become Britain’s third female prime minister on Tuesday, a successor to the legacies of conservative female leaders Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.

Truss, and outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson will both travel to Balmoral in Scotland tomorrow to meet with Queen Elizabeth II, a requirement of Britain's unwritten constitution. 

Britain’s Queen must formally approve the formation of a new government, which will now be led by Truss—a ceremonial procedure that usually takes place at London’s Palace, just a short distance from 10 Downing Street, but the 96-year-old royal is currently resting at her Scottish residence.

Once Truss has met with the Queen, the new Prime Minister will return to London to announce her new Cabinet at Downing Street, which will most likely some of her supporters.

Per custom, Truss will then face Prime Minister's Questions for the first time on Wednesday.

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his support for Truss, saying that he believes she has the right vision to help the country and unite Britain's Tory party. 

“Congratulations to @trussliz on her decisive win,” he tweeted Monday morning. I know she has the right plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, unite our party and continue the great work of uniting and levelling up our country. Now is the time for all Conservatives to get behind her 100 percent.”

Johnson was pressured to resign in July after several months of rising controversy, namely during the country’s Partygate scandal, but was also widely created for helping his country navigate through the pandemic and Brexit.

Truss is now faced with additional challenges such as Vladimir Putin‘s war on Ukraine, inflation and a potential energy shortage this winter. Replacing Johnson’s position, she will also become the new G7 leader.

Some of Truss’s main competitors congratulated her, also showing support for the new British government.

Rishi Sunak tweeted his support for Truss, saying, “Thank you to everyone who voted for me in this campaign. I’ve said throughout that the Conservatives are one family. It’s right we now unite behind the new PM, Liz Truss, as she steers the country through difficult times.”

Labor Party leaders expressed support for new Prime Minister, but also asserted its conviction that the left needed to be leading Britain.

“I'd like to congratulate our next Prime Minister Liz Truss as she prepares for office,” tweeted Labour Party leader Keir Starmer. “But after 12 years of the Tories all we have to show for it is low wages, high prices, and a Tory cost of living crisis. Only Labour can deliver the fresh start our country needs.”

In her maiden speech to the country Monday morning, Truss reiterated that she knew her job was to “deliver” and produce results, and also win the next general election.

 

“We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years,” she told the country. “We all will deliver for our country, and I will make sure that we use all the fantastic talents of the Conservative Party.“ And we will deliver a great victory for the Conservative Party in 2024,” she said.. 

 

Executive Editor

Gelet Martínez Fragela

Gelet Martínez Fragela is the founder and editor-in-chief of ADN America. She is a Cuban journalist, television producer, and political refugee who also founded ADN Cuba.