Liz Truss has been elected as the UK’s next prime minister, replacing Boris Johnson, who was hit by a succession of scandals.
She will be the third woman to serve as prime minister of the United Kingdom and Britain’s fourth Tory prime minister in six years.
Truss was announced Monday as the Conservative Party leadership election winner after defeating former chancellor Rishi Sunak by a 57% to 43% margin.
Boris Johnson departed the British prime minister’s residence of 10 Downing Street, heading to Scotland to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and officially resign on Tuesday. “It’s time for politics to be over folks, it’s time for us all to get behind Liz Truss and her team and deliver for the people of this country,” UK’s outgoing prime minister said.
On September 6, Liz Truss will hold her first prime ministerial meeting with Queen Elizabeth II.
Truss will become Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday when the 96-year-old monarch formally asks her to form a government. The ceremony will take place at a royal residence in Scotland.
She will immediately appoint a Cabinet of loyalist MPs. She is expected to announce plans for an energy price freeze as the country faces its worst economic crisis.
Truss pledged to “deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy” in her victory speech.
Liz Truss inherits a vast range of economic and political problems including the war in Ukraine and the fallout of Brexit. Inflation already stands at 10 percent, with economists warning that 15 percent is possible.
Truss, 47, has held senior posts under three prime ministers, including her most recent stint as foreign secretary of the UK.