Former Foreign Secretary Liz Truss became the British prime minister Tuesday after being asked to form a government by Queen Elizabeth II.
Truss, who defeated former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on Monday, became the prime minister shortly after Boris Johnson tendered his resignation to the queen.
“I am like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function,” Johnson said in his final address on Tuesday. “I will now be gently reentering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the Pacific. … Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plow, and I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support.”
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Johnson urged the party to stand behind Truss now as she takes over as prime minister. Truss is expected to give her first address on her return to No. 10 Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon. She is also expected to present her new Cabinet and immediately begin confronting challenges for the British people, including curbing high prices, easing labor unrest, and addressing the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party,” Truss tweeted after the election. “Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential.”
Truss was elected the Conservative member of Parliament for southwestern Norfolk in 2010. In 2019, she was elected as minister for women and equalities, and in 2021, she was chosen as foreign secretary. During her election campaign, Truss billed economy, security, and the environment as “major challenges” that she would tackle.
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Truss marks the 15th prime minister to serve under the queen during her 70-year reign. The first was Winston Churchill. However, Truss is the first prime minister to be appointed at the queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland, where Johnson resigned Tuesday morning.
