Liz Truss is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The former foreign secretary was appointed as Boris Johnson’s successor by Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Tuesday. The palace released a photo of the meeting. Truss then made her way to her seat of government in Downing Street, London, together with her husband Hugh O’Leary. There she gave her first speech as Prime Minister in the afternoon.
She began her statement by praising Boris Johnson. He managed the Covid crisis and Brexit and organized support for Ukraine. “History will one day see him as a particularly consistent prime minister,” Truss said.
The Queen appoints Truss as Britain’s new Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle.
(Photo: Jane Barlow/AP)
“Now is the time to address the things that are currently setting the UK back,” Truss said in her speech. She identified three key areas. On the one hand, she wants to lower taxes in order to rekindle economic momentum in the country. That was her most important topic even during her candidacy. Secondly, she will do everything to mitigate the energy crisis, and thirdly, the health system, which is highly valued by many Britons National Health Service reform. “I am determined to deliver,” said the new prime minister at the end, before stepping behind the black door of number ten disappeared, for the first time as head of government.
Truss is now expected to announce the key members of her cabinet later this evening. On Monday, after a week-long internal party selection process, she was named party leader and thus also designated prime minister. She was able to prevail against ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak in the vote among Tory members, but much narrower than expected. The support that Johnson’s successor enjoys within her own party and within her group is by no means unqualified. This increases the pressure on Truss to immediately make a positive impression on voters.
Truss is expected to outline the outlines of a plan to cushion the skyrocketing rise in the cost of living. In Great Britain, too, there are fears that the energy costs that have skyrocketed as a result of the Ukraine war could put millions of households in financial difficulties. According to a report in the tabloid “Sun”, Truss therefore wants to freeze gas and electricity prices – a project that, according to the report, is likely to cost the British state at least 40 billion pounds (around 46.5 billion euros). At the same time, if Truss sticks to its announcements that it will cut taxes, it will be a difficult balancing act. Add to this the problems of the chronically underfunded NHS health service and massive public sector dissatisfaction with wages and salaries.
Johnson wants to ‘energetically support’ Truss
Earlier, Queen Elizabeth II had dismissed Boris Johnson from office. The Queen, who with Liz Truss has now seen three prime ministers and twelve prime ministers during her reign, traditionally stays at her Scottish country estate, Balmoral Castle, from mid-July to mid-September. The fact that she does not receive Johnson and Truss at Buckingham Palace in London has to do with the mobility problems of the 96-year-old monarch.
Boris Johnson delivers his final speech as Prime Minister at Downing Street in London.
(Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Outgoing Prime Minister Johnson promised his successor Truss “nothing but vigorous support” this morning. The conservative politician said this in his last speech as British Prime Minister in London’s Downing Street. Hundreds of employees, members of parliament, photographers and reporters had gathered in the blocked-off street. With the appearance on Tuesday morning, Johnson said goodbye to the top government after a good three years in office.
As usual, the 58-year-old humorously dismissed speculation about a possible comeback, but did not leave any doubt as to how serious he was about it. “Let me say that I am now like one of those launch vehicles that has done its job and gently reenters the atmosphere and sinks invisibly somewhere in a distant part of the Pacific,” Johnson said. Political observers do not rule out that Johnson is already planning his return to the top of government.
The 58-year-old once again listed the actual and alleged achievements of his reign – including Brexit, the rapid distribution of corona vaccines, the early support of Ukraine with arms deliveries, the fight against crime and the construction of new hospitals.