Liz Truss becomes UK prime minister after Boris Johnson’s resignation

by Sara Floyd Hello

On Tuesday, Liz Truss became the prime minister of the United Kingdom, shortly after Boris Johnson formally resigned.

During an audience with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Tuesday morning Johnson, who had announced his intention to resign two months ago, formally stepped down.

A short time later, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace, with the 96-year-old queen, Truss had her own audience and was formally asked to form a new government.

In the queen’s 70-year reign that the ceremonial transfer of power was held at Balmoral it was the first time, where she is vacationing, rather than at Buckingham Palace in London.

After the ruling Conservative Party selected her as its new leader Truss, 47, took office a day, putting her in line to be confirmed without the need for a general election as the U.K. prime minister because in the House of Commons the Conservatives wield a majority.

On Monday in a speech following her victory, Truss said it was an “honor” to be chosen and paid tribute to Johnson, her “friend.”

Since 2016 she has been in the U.K.’s fourth prime minister and the country’s third female premier ever.

Truss once again praised her predecessor in her first speech from the steps of 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official residence, As a “hugely consequential prime minister”.

She said, “I’m honored at a time for our country to take on this responsibility”, by adding that she was “determined to deliver.”

Three priorities were economic growth, tackling the energy crisis “caused by Putin’s war,” and improving the National Health Service, said Truss.

As the foreign secretary along with Rishi Sunak Truss previously served in Johnson’s cabinet, the former chancellor of the exchequer whose resignation helped bring about Johnson’s downfall earlier this year.

Against Rishi Sunak she ran in the Conservative Party’s leadership election, in which only the 172,000 dues-paying members were allowed to vote.

After eight weeks of campaigning the party’s members cast their votes, with Truss — a supporter of Johnson who said she did not back his resignation emerging as the overwhelming favorite.

About what either candidate would do to tackle a looming economic crisis The campaign was dominated by questions, with household energy bills set to skyrocket this winter and inflation — already reaching a four-decade high at 10.1% expected to rise even further, according to the Bank of England.

On the issue of tax Truss and Sunak clashed most fiercely, with Truss saying she would not raise taxes while Sunak has supported a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits to help ease the burden on households.

On the energy crisis within a week of taking office Truss has promised action, though she has not spelled out her plans in any detail and refused to elaborate when questioned by BBC News on Sunday. On Thursday she is expected to unveil her plan.

Uniting a divided Conservative Party Truss will also have the task. most Notably with the issue of “Partygate Johnson’s tenure in office was dogged by scandal,” or the illegal gatherings held at government residences while amid the coronavirus pandemic the U.K. was under a strict lockdown.

For securing a huge election victory while Johnson’s supporters will remember him, Brexit and support for Ukraine, Johnson’s detractors say his conduct and flexible relationship with the truth damaged the Conservative Party’s brand.

In an op-ed published by The Sunday Telegraph over the weekend, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, Sir Keir Starmer, said in recent years that the appointment of a fourth Conservative prime minister did not mark a “new dawn” for Britain.

Starmer wrote that “The shadows of crisis are lengthening, as summer turns to autumn, looming over the whole country”. “The scale of what is facing us either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss, have grasped. There is no sign, let alone possess the answers to it.”

Johnson announced that he had agreed to resign as leader of the Conservative Party in July, which resulted in his departure as prime minister once the party selected a successor through the leadership election.

“There should be a new prime minister and therefore should be a new leader of that party. It is clear now with the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party”, Johnson said on July 7 in a statement delivered outside his office at no. 10 Downing Street in London.

“I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world”, later on he also added. “But them’s the breaks.”

Source:- https://usstudieson.com/liz-truss-becomes-uk-prime-minister-after-boris-johnsons-resignation/