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Liz Truss becomes next Prime Minister after beating Rishi Sunak by 21,000 votes
The UK’s next prime minister has been officially announced as Liz Truss, who has beaten Rishi Sunak in the race to become leader of the Conservative Party, according to the Metro.
In total, Ms Truss received 81,326 votes from the Tory membership compared to Mr Sunak’s 60,399.
The results were announced by Sir Graham Brady today after the contest began in July.
It means that Ms Truss, currently the Foreign Secretary, will be asked to form a government tomorrow after Boris Johnson steps down.
In a speech of thanks, she said it was an honour to be announced as the winner after a ‘hard-fought campaign’ against Rishi Sunak – and promised to govern ‘as a Conservative’.
She hinted that there would not be a general election anytime soon, saying: ‘We will deliver, we will deliver and we will deliver.
‘And we will deliver a great victory for the Conservative Party in 2024.’
I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 5, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb
She paid tribute to Boris Johnson, saying he had steered the country through crises including coronavirus and the Ukraine war as well as ‘crushing’ former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
‘I know that our beliefs resonate with the British people: our beliefs in freedom, in the ability to control your own life, in low taxes, in personal responsibility,’ she told those gathered.
Next British PM to be revealed at 1130 GMT today
‘I know that’s why people voted for us in such numbers in 2019 and as your party leader I intend to deliver what we promised those voters right across our great country.’
The 47-year-old will become the UK's third woman prime minister. She followed Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
She will travel to Balmoral tomorrow where she will have an audience with the Queen and meet Boris Johnson for a handover of power.
She will then make an address to the country later in the evening to thank Tory party members for voting for her and set out her hopes for her term in power.
YouGov poll: Only 12 percent expect Liz Truss will be a good prime minister
Liz Truss has promised to take action to deal with surging energy costs after winning the Tory leadership contest, according to the BBC
She has promised to detail a plan to deal with soaring prices within days, with an announcement understood to be pencilled in for Thursday (Sep 8).
She inherits a flagging economy, with inflation at a 40-year high and pressure to shield households and businesses from soaring energy costs.
