Profile | Who Is Liz Truss, Britain’s Third Female Premier?
Liz Truss emerged as the leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister of the United Kingdom Monday, September 5 at a time when the UK faces diverse internal setbacks.
She defeated former finance minister Rishi Sunak to clinch the top position in British politics, in a leadership race that was divisive and fierce. Truss polled 57.4 percent of the votes to triumph over Sunak, who had 47.6 percent.
Her emergence makes her the third female British premier after Margaret Thatcher, a leader she admires, and Theresa May, under whose administration she held various cabinet positions.
Truss accession to power was approved Tuesday, September 6 by Queen Elizabeth II after Boris Johnson tendered his resignation formally, as British PM.
She is all set to form a new administration.
Profile
Born in July 1975 Mary Elizabeth Truss studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University.
Interestingly, she will become the 29th Oxford alumni to progress into Number 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister.
Truss possesses robust political credentials and has served in various ministerial positions under successive administrations.
Prior to her involvement in Conservative politics, Truss was a Centrist liberal democrat. She became a member of the Conservative Party in 1996 and to date remains a loyalist.
Positions held
Truss, a conservative politician ran two unsuccessful bids for Parliament before she was elected in 2010, and in 2012 won an appointment as Education Minister.
Her political credentials include the position of Secretary of States of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which she held from 2014 – 2016 under David Cameron.
Truss also served as Secretary of States for Justice under Theresa May, who resigned from office in 2019 when she failed to deliver Brexit – the withdrawal process of the UK from the European Union.
In the 2016 EU referendum, she voted for Britain to remain in the bloc but made a U-turn in 2017 to champion Brexit.
Under Boris Johnson, who is credited to have pulled Britain out of the EU, she served as Minister for International Trade.
In September 2021, Johnson handed her the top role of Foreign Secretary, a position she held up until her ascendance to power.
What does Truss promise?
Truss is no stranger to political transformations. She ran a campaign that focuses on tax cuts, the need to prioritize economic growth, increase defense expenditure and energy output.
She promises a crackdown on illegal immigration and supports plans to send migrants to Rwanda while maintaining a strong foreign policy posture toward Russia and China.
A tall order in sight
Clearly, Liz Truss has inherited a country in the throes of an economic crisis, the worst in decades. Energy prices are on the rise, a recession is around the corner and inflation hits hard on the British populace. Policies of radical economic transformation are a necessity.
Truss’ relationship with Europe is also one to watch out for – London faces a legal battle with Brussels over Brexit. The war in Ukraine where Britain takes a firm line against Moscow still rages on as Kyiv appeals for increased British support to fend off the Russian offensive.
It is important to note, that Truss also inherited a divided and embattled Conservative party, which she has to unite to ensure a stable administration and lead the party to victory come 2024.
It is left to be seen if the Conservative premier will deliver on her robust campaign promises amid the uphill task that lies ahead and inter alia, get the British economy back on track.
