Liz Truss is elected as new Conservative Leader and Prime Minister

Following months of campaigning, Liz Truss has been elected by Conservative Party members to be their next party leader and the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This makes Liz Truss the fourth Conservative Prime Minister since the Conservative won power in 2010.

Liz Truss will take office as Prime Minister on 6th September 2022, after she is asked by the Queen to form a Government.

Liz Truss has served in Government in a number of roles including Foreign Secretary, Minister for Women and Equalities, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Secretary of State for Justice. She brings a wealth of knowledge on how the UK Government operates, but the public will want to see more than just experience – they also want to see a vision on how she will tackle the pressing issues that the public are facing.

The immediate focus will be on the cost of living, particularly soaring energy prices which have left millions of people wondering how they will be able to afford turning the heating on this winter. Food prices are also increasing rapidly, and we are hearing more anecdotal evidence about the instability of the private rental sector which houses millions of people.

Liz Truss takes office with the Conservatives polling incredibly low in public opinion measures, and all eyes will be on how Liz Truss can win back the trust of the country – and whether she will be tempted into calling an early general election. The next election can be no later than January 2025, but a series of measures to alleviate the financial pressure that the public is facing may provide a suitable environment to call an election and secure herself another 5 years of governing.

BASW UK will keep members informed about key people and policy announcements that come from this new Government.