UK PM Liz Truss Resigns After 45 days In Office
In an embarrassing development, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned from her post 45 days after coming to power.
In an embarrassing development, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned from her post 45 days after coming to power. This is the shortest term for a British PM. Notably, her policies triggered economic turmoil and backlash from various quarters. Truss was reportedly asked to quit by party members on 20th October. Her party MPs will now have to choose a third PM within months.
Truss became the Prime Minister in September 2022 amid the country facing high energy prices and inflation. The UK was facing the highest inflation in four decades. After Liz Truss became the PM, she appointed loyalists to key jobs and when, at the last, she tried to stamp her authority on the party, she only provoked everyone’s anger. She proposed a series of tax cuts and energy support schemes but without any analysis of how it would be funded. The markets reacted violently and there were fears it would hamper the battle against inflation and destabilize the public finances. The Pound tumbled to an all-time low against the Dollar. She has had to backtrack on two budget plans. Earlier she sacked chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. Then Home secretary Suella Braverman quit, prompting a rebellion of MPs. She faced demands to step down as the PM including from her fellow party members. After all the backlash, Truss submitted her resignation to King Charles III.
Although she is to retain the post until her successor is appointed as the PM by King Charles III and formally takes over. Truss said, "I recognize that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected.” Truss said her successor would be elected next week in a leadership contest.
Rishi Sunak, Truss's rival in the election and fellow party member — is now seen as the top contender for the post. However, there are calls to bring Boris Johnson back.
