Tuesday saw the formal appointment of Liz Truss as the third female prime minister in British history after the resignation of her predecessor, Boris Johnson, who announced his departure in a speech of defiance after a string of scandals.
Truss, 47, took the most votes in the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party to succeed Johnson, who resigned in July. Her nomination fills a leadership hole that the UK has been experiencing for several months as its worst economic crisis in decades grew worse.The nation is dealing with a worsening cost-of-living problem, a failing healthcare system, and a seemingly never-ending wave of labor strikes, so Truss has a long list of things to do.
The cost of electricity is the most pressing issue Truss needs to address since it is forcing millions of Britons to choose between putting food on the table and heating their homes this winter and might cause a wave of business closures. If nothing is done soon, experts have warned, more people will go hungry and die from the cold.
As the energy situation worsens, the Bank of England predicts that UK inflation will soar to 13% and that the nation will experience a recession by the end of the year. According to Goldman Sachs, if natural gas prices "stay elevated at current levels," they might possibly reach 22%.
Truss promised to "present a bold strategy to lower taxes and expand our economy" on Monday. I will deliver on the energy crisis, taking care of both the short-term problems we have with the energy supply as well as people's energy expenditures. And with regard to the National Health Service, I will deliver.
In a change from tradition, Truss visited Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Tuesday before being sworn in as prime minister.
The Queen typically asks a new prime minister to form a government during an audience in London's Buckingham Palace, but due to her mobility concerns, she decided not to travel to the British capital for the first time in her 70-year reign.
Shortly after Johnson met with the Queen to formally resign as prime minister, Truss had a meeting with the monarch.
Johnson praised his accomplishments in his parting speech outside Downing Street early on Tuesday, avoided mentioning his failings, and vowed to back Truss' incoming administration.
"Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plow, and I will be giving this government nothing but my fervent support," the speaker said, alluding to a legendary Roman leader who dedicated himself to the republic during times of difficulty. It's time for everyone to support Liz Truss, her crew, and her initiative.
Truss will be greeted by her new colleagues at Downing Street after returning to London. Before she starts selecting a cabinet, she will be required to sign the UK's renowned letters of last resort, which provide military leaders with instructions on what to do in the event that the government collapses or is destroyed by a nuclear assault.
Additionally, Truss will be asked to describe how she intends to address the critical cost-of-living problem facing the UK as quickly as feasible. If the new leader does not present precise proposals within the next 48 hours, her political adversaries, both inside and outside the Conservative Party, will not find it acceptable.
Following that, on Wednesday afternoon, Truss will participate in her first Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. Her team will view this as a crucial opportunity to establish the tone of her leadership.
Given that Truss was viewed as the Johnson continuity candidate in the leadership race, considerable attention will be devoted to how much she departs from Johnson's legislative agenda.
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