Liz Truss Elected as UK Prime Minister, Replaces Boris Johnson

VIVA – The UK Secretary of State, Mary Elizabeth Truss or Liz Truss elected as the new UK Prime Minister on Monday, September 5, 2022. Liz Truss won the Conservative Party election to replace Boris Johnson.

After weeks of contesting leadership and competing with former finance minister Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss was declared the winner of the Conservative Party vote with 81,326 votes to 60,399 votes.

"We need to show what we're going to deliver over the next two years. I'm going to deliver a brave plan to cut taxes and grow our economy," Liz Truss remarked after the election results were announced.

"I'm going to tackle the energy crisis, deal with people's energy bills, but also address the long-term issues we have about energy supply," Liz Truss added.

The announcement will be followed by the process of handing over leadership from Boris Johnson. Johnson announced his resignation in July after months of scandal undermined support for his government.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Johnson will go to Scotland to meet Queen Elizabeth to formally submit his resignation.

Truss will become the Conservative Party's fourth prime minister since the 2015 election. During that period, UK has been hit by various crises and is now facing what is expected to be a long recession triggered by a spike in inflation to 10.1 percent in July.

Liz Truss has vowed to act quickly to address the UK's cost of living crisis.  She said that within a week she will come up with a plan to tackle rising energy prices and secure future fuel supplies.

She has given a signal during the campaign that she will challenge convention by removing tax increase and cutting other levies in a move that some economists say will fuel inflation.

As information, Liz Truss has served as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since 2021, and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2019.

She also became a member of the Conservative Party, she has been Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk since 2010.