Mary Elizabeth Truss, popularly known as Liz Truss won the race and became the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Here’s all you need to know about her.
Liz Truss emerges winner of the UK’s leadership race
Liz Truss became the UK’s next Prime Minister after trumping Rishi Sunak. The 47-year-old becomes the third female prime minister of the nation following Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. The leadership race for the position began as a string of scandals led the departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign. While she was initially following Sunak in the polls, she surged ahead as the voting took place. She was later leading in the polls amongst the estimated 200,000 Tory members eligible for the poll.
Truss earned 81326 votes as Sunak gained 60399. “I am honored to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential,” she tweeted after the victory.
More on her aims
Previously, Liz Truss revealed to the Daily Mail that as UK’s new PM she will “do everything in my power to make sure everyone, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work takes them”.
According to a late August YouGov poll, 52 percent believe Truss would make a “poor” or “terrible” PM. 43 percent revealed they do not trust her “at all” to deal with issues related to the increase in the cost of living. Truss is entering office as energy prices in the UK are rising. The nation is also facing the pressure of the war in Ukraine. Moreover, Russia is leveraging its position as a major gas provider and exerting political pressure on the West. As winter approaches, energy shortage may cause greater trouble. Additionally, there is a wave of discernible anger among the public. She will be tasked with winning over the nation’s general public.
