Liz Truss Defeats Rishi Sunak To Become New UK PM
Liz Truss, 47, campaigned on a platform of slashing taxes and bulldozing bureaucratic "orthodoxy", particularly in the finance ministry where she once worked.
New Delhi:
Liz Truss was named as the UK’s next Prime Minister today, winning an internal leadership contest of the ruling Conservative party at a time when the country faces an industrial unrest and a recession.
She beat her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, by 81,326 votes to 60,399, after a summer-long often bad-tempered and divisive party leadership contest sparked by Boris Johnson’s resignation in July.
As she was confirmed successor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Truss vowed “bold” action to confront the biting economic crisis.
“We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy,” Truss said after the result was announced.
Liz Truss, 47, will be only the UK’s third female Prime Minister following Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher
The announcement triggers the start of a handover from Boris Johnson, who was forced to announce his resignation in July after months of scandal saw support for his administration drain away.
He will travel to Scotland to meet Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday to officially tender his resignation. Truss will follow him and be asked to form a government by the monarch.
