Liz Truss has been confirmed as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She received the keys to 10 Downing Street after beating Rishi Sunak in the final round of voting to become the next leader of the Conservative Party on Monday 5th September. Following the contest, she went to visit the queen at Balmoral Castle where she is staying for health reasons. Prior to the new appointment, Boris Johnson, the existing Prime Minister had been to visit the queen to resign.
Mr Johnson was forced to resign following many Conservative MP’s turning their backs on him and resigning from their positions in government. This left the Conservatives short of people who could fill the roles and the Cabinet had to be reshuffled a number of times. Mr. Johnson was forced to step down as it was deemed that his position as UK Prime Minister was untenable but was allowed to stay in power until a new leader was chosen who would immediately become the country’s new Prime Minister.
Ms Truss becomes the third female Conservative Prime Minister following Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May and also becomes the fifteenth Prime Minister of Queen Elizabeth the Second’s reign. She began her first day in 10 Downing Street following reshuffling the Cabinet to ensure that the most appropriate MP’s filled the right positions.
She also becomes the fifty sixth UK Prime Minister. The main policies which she is standing for which helped her get elected was to pledge to reduce taxes so that the people can keep more of their own money and be able to pay the bills that they have. It will also ensure they stay on a solid financial foundation to help them manage in society at this present time. Currently, the country is facing an energy crisis due to costs of items such as fuel etc. spiralling out of control.
Following her victory and confirmation as Prime Minister, Ms Truss made a speech outside Downing Street in which she spelt out what she hopes to achieve during her time in office and how she hopes to get there.
“As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger.”
Setting out her initial aims, she said she would grow the economy through tax cuts and reform; take action to deal with energy bills and put the health service on “a firm footing”.
Ms Truss gave her speech after travelling back from Scotland where she was officially appointed by the Queen.
Plans to speak outside were put into jeopardy following a burst of heavy rainfall which forced waiting colleagues and journalists to take shelter, while the podium was covered in a black bin bag.
Many of the positions that have been filled have been occupied by allies of the new Prime Minister which will help her pass laws and get what she wants done.
This includes Therese Coffey becoming the new Health Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. Speaking to the BBC, she said patients are her top priority, and that social care is going to be critical in order to deal with the thousands of patients currently in hospital who don’t need clinical care.
She says she is “very conscious” of staff shortages in the NHS.
“There are a lot of vacancies, that’s why we continue to roll out the diagnostic centres, that’s why there’s more treatment centres that are being put in place in order to tackle the backlog, that’s the level of detail I now want to, and need to, get into.”
There will now be a search to see what can be done to help the public during a time when fuel bills are high. Support needs to be given to people to help ensure they can manage in everyday society and not be victimised if they are not as able s others. People will need support to help manage with the high cost of every and other products so plans will need to be laid out how to help cater for everyone equally in society.
