Politics

Liz Truss confirmed as UK’s next PM

London, Sep 5 (EFE).- Liz Truss on Monday won the backing of Conservative Party members to take over from Boris Johnson as the United Kingdom’s next prime minister.

The foreign secretary fended off competition from her opponent, ex-finance chief Rishi Sunak, by securing the backing of 81,326 of the 172,437 of Conservative Party members who cast their vote in an election that closed Friday. Sunak took 60,399 votes.

“During this leadership campaign, I campaigned as a conservative and I will govern as a conservative,” Truss told her colleagues after the results were announced at the QEII center in London.

She pledged to pursue a “bold” plan to cut taxes, boost the economy and “deliver” on energy bills, although she did not outline details.

The handover of power in the UK comes amid an acute energy price and cost of living crisis and follows a summer marked by strike action in various sectors over pay and conditions.

Truss is widely regarded as a more right-wing candidate than Sunak.

She will officially take over from Johnson on Tuesday after the pair meet with Queen Elizabeth II at the monarch’s Scottish residence, Balmoral Castle.

Monday’s unveiling of the new Conservative Party leader and next PM brought an end to a leadership contest launched following Johnson’s July 7 announcement that he would resign.

His decision was in response to party pressure and mass resignations following a string of controversies including illegal Downing Street parties during lockdown.

The UK’s incoming PM is set to outline her new cabinet by Wednesday.EFE

vg-jt/ch

Related Articles

Back to top button