Liz Truss has been announced as the prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK), replacing Boris Johnson who resigned in early July following three turbulent years in power.
Truss raked in 81,326 votes to beat Rishi Sunak who polled 60,399 votes to become the leader of the ruling Conservative Party on Monday.
On Tuesday, Truss officially became Britain’s PM after meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, who asked her to form a new government.
“The Queen received in audience the right honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new administration. Ms. Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as prime minister and first lord of the treasury,” a Buckingham Palace statement said.
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She takes over an economy dealing with double-digit inflation, skyrocketing energy prices, and a warning from the Bank of England of a protracted recession by the end of this year.
The 47-year-old will be the third female UK PM following Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
Before her emergence as Tory leader and British PM, Truss was the UK’s secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs and minister for women and equalities.
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On Sunday, Truss promised to unveil her plans for tackling the cost-of-living crisis within a week.
Former PM Boris Johnson has urged the country and his warring party to unite behind the new leader.
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