The 47-year-old diplomat prevailed by 81,326 votes against 60,399 against former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, a 42-year-old former banker billionaire grandson of Indian immigrants.
Truss will become the country’s third prime minister, after fellow conservatives Thatcher (1979-1990) and Theresa May (2016-2019).
“It’s an honour,” said a visibly moved Truss in a speech in which she paid tribute to Johnson for his work at the head of the country since 2019, bringing “Brexit” to a successful conclusion, overcoming the pandemic and standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. for his invasion of the Ukraine.
Faced with the internal division aggravated by this election, Johnson called on the Conservative Party to unite behind Truss. “Now is the time for all Conservatives to support her 100%,” he tweeted.
The race for the leadership began in July, when the prime minister was forced to resign.
Its result, however, is not necessarily representative of the wishes of the 67 million Britons.
In a YouGov poll in late August, 52% of respondents thought Truss would be a “bad” or “terrible” prime minister. Likewise, 43% stated that they do not trust it “at all” when it comes to responding to the main problem of the economy: inflation.
To his Thatcherite program he adds a frontal refusal to discuss Argentine rights over the Malvinas. The islands “are part of the British family,” he said in February. He also noted that “we completely reject any question of sovereignty.”
Prices
The United Kingdom registers an inflation of 10%, which could reach 14% by the end of the year, fueled by the spike in energy prices (see separate note). An inflation that during the boreal summer gave rise to numerous strikes and promises an autumn marked by protests.
The energy bill of households will rise 80% from October, and millions of families face a painful dilemma between eating and heating their homes in the coming winter.
“I will deal with the energy crisis and the citizens’ bills, but also with the long-term problems that we have in the energy supply,” Truss promised yesterday in a brief speech after announcing his victory.
According to several local media, it contemplates a freeze on energy prices.
“If the new prime minister does not tackle these issues head-on, the economy will enter even more dangerous waters and the outlook for businesses and consumers will be truly bleak,” said Sarah Howard, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, calling for help. immediate.
Reiterating his campaign pledges, Truss promised to present “a bold plan to cut taxes and grow the economy” in Britain, which is teetering on the brink of recession. On Sunday he had announced that he would present such a plan “in a month.”
Debut
The change of prime minister will take place today, when Johnson delivers his farewell speech in Downing Street. He will then travel to Balmoral, Elizabeth II’s summer residence in Scotland, 800 km north of London, to submit his formal resignation to the queen, who will then officially name Truss as her successor.
For the first time in her 70-year reign, Elizabeth II, 96, will not travel to London for this ceremony, due to her increasing mobility problems.
The new head of government will then return to London to deliver her first speech at the famous black door of 10 Downing Street and form a government.
Source: Ambito
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