New UK Prime Minister inherits a country beset by many crises
New Conservative Party leader and incoming prime minister Liz Truss smiles and waves as she arrives at Conservative Party Headquarters in central London having been announced the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest at an event in central London on September 5, 2022. - Truss is the UK's third female prime minister following Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher.
Former long-serving editor at the Daily Nation. He writes the weekly Letter from London.
What you need to know:
Truss has inherited a country in crisis. Key issues in her in-tray include huge increases in the cost of living and soaring energy bills.
With everyone’s annual energy bill set to rise by 80 per cent next month, there are fears that non-payment could result in vulnerable people being admitted to hospitals.
With inflation set to reach 13 per cent, the mood of workers is one of anger and aggression.
The inevitable duly happened last week and the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, was proclaimed leader of the ruling Conservative party and thus Prime Minister in succession to Boris Johnson, who resigned after a series of scandals.
Truss won the votes of 57 per cent of party members against 42 per cent for the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak. In doing so, she inherited a country in crisis.
