The 47-year-old belongs to the right wing of the conservative party.
(Photo: AP)
London Liz Truss is set to become Britain’s new prime minister. As the ruling conservatives announced on Monday, the foreign minister prevailed in an internal party vote against former finance minister Rishi Sunak. Truss received 57.4 percent of the vote, while Sunak received 42.6 percent. The 47-year-old succeeds Boris Johnson as party and government leader.
As the new Tories leader, Truss is automatically set as prime minister as the Conservatives currently control the UK House of Commons. Over the past few weeks, the 175,000 party members have been able to vote by letter or online who should follow Johnson.
Sunak and Truss had previously prevailed in several rounds of voting by the Conservative MPs – among these, however, Sunak was still the clear favourite.
However, Truss, who is assigned to the right wing of the party, was able to convince in the inner-party election campaign above all with the plan to immediately lower taxes despite enormously high inflation.
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She also scored points with the party base – which is significantly older, more male and wealthier than the average British population – with a confrontational stance towards the EU and populist statements on refugees, left-wingers, environmental activists and social minorities.
Sunak was Britain’s finance minister until his resignation in the summer.
(Photo: AP)
The change at the top of the British government will take place tomorrow. Queen Elizabeth II will appoint Truss as Prime Minister this Tuesday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. This will make Truss the third woman to lead the British government after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
Predecessor Johnson caused numerous scandals
On Tuesday, Johnson will also address the population one last time as prime minister before he is dismissed from office by the Queen.
>> Read here: Tied to the EU: British Conservatives have trouble explaining themselves about the energy crisis
After numerous scandals, Johnson is leaving office under pressure from his cabinet. The “Partygate” affair about banned lockdown celebrations in Johnson’s official residence had shaken him. Several other scandals and his handling of them ultimately brought him down. When prominent members of his cabinet resigned, triggering a mass exodus from the ranks of the government, the 58-year-old felt compelled to resign.
More: Liz Truss – With weird ideas into the “Winter of Displeasure”