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Johnson, Boris

Liz Truss: The Unlikely New Prime Minister of Britain

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Liz Truss, 47, has made history by becoming the third woman to hold the position of British prime minister, following in the footsteps of Conservative predecessors Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Truss won the Conservative Party leadership contest with 57.4 percent of the vote, overtaking her rival Rishi Sunak, who was initially the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Boris Johnson. Truss's triumph can be attributed to strategic moves on her part, as well as mishaps in Sunak's leadership campaign. She successfully underscored her less privileged upbringing, contrasting with Sunak's proximity to vast wealth, which proved to be a major pitfall for the latter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Truss's victory is the first time a woman has held the position of British prime minister without being the leader of the opposition.
  • Truss has promised tax cuts "from day one" of her premiership, which has been criticized by economists and the left as likely to create more inflation.
  • Truss has pledged to "provide immediate support" to households affected by the cost-of-living crisis, but details of this plan are yet to be revealed.
  • Truss faces a colossal challenge in dealing with the cost-of-living crisis, which could see millions of people unable to afford to heat their homes.
  • Truss is expected to continue Johnson's policy of strong support for Ukraine, but her recent comments about France's President Emmanuel Macron have caused consternation among critics.
  • Truss has been criticized by left-wingers for her plans to pursue the outgoing government's bid to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
  • Truss has been accused of being an intellectual lightweight who is not up to the job of being prime minister.

Statistics:

  • Truss won the Conservative Party leadership contest with 57.4 percent of the vote.
  • Truss's-winning margin over Sunak was 35 percentage points (57.4 vs 22.4).
  • 63 percent of party members preferred Johnson to remain in charge over Truss (22 percent).
  • 68 percent of party members preferred Johnson to remain in charge over Sunak (19 percent).
  • Inflation stands at a 40-year high of 10.1 percent.
  • Truss has promised to provide immediate support to households affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Sources:

  • FRANCE 24
  • The Times
  • British NGO More In Common
  • The Guardian
  • The Observer

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