New UK PM: Liz Truss defeats Rishi Sunak for top job; hails Boris Johnson, announces tax cut plan

After a heated campaign, Liz Truss was announced as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 5 September 2022.

Truss defeated Indian-origin Rishi Sunak to succeed Boris Johnson as the premier. In the race to become the leader of the Conservative party, Liz Truss secured 81,326 votes, while Sunak won 60,399 votes.

In her victory speech, Truss hailed Boris Johnson for standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war. She also thanked Johnson for implementing Brexit, rolling out Covid vaccines, and "crushing Jeremy Corbyn" of the Opposition Labour party. Truss said that Johnson is "admired from Kyiv to Carlisle", an interesting send-off given the multiple controversies Boris Johnson attracted during his tenure at 10, Downing Street, including a party during Covid lockdown.

Spelling out her strategy as PM, Truss announced a "bold" plan to cut taxes, and grow the economy. She also promised to fix the ongoing energy crisis. Finally, Truss exhorted the Conservative party leaders to ensure a great victory in 2024.

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