Conservative leadership frontrunner Liz Truss has been urged to put her country before her political ideals if, as expected, she replaces Boris Johnson as prime minister tomorrow.
Truss is firm favourite to be declared the winner of the contest and the country’s new prime minister at lunchtime tomorrow but will immediately address the looming economic catastrophe as families and firms face being crushed by the cost-of-living crisis.
During the contest with former chancellor Rishi Sunak, Truss appealed to Conservative supporters by promising tax cuts, business deregulation and rejecting “handouts” as a way of helping people affected by the crisis.
She is also reported to be planning a shake-up of employment laws with a review of protections for workers and is said to be considering lifting the ban in England on fracking after it was halted in 2019 because of concerns about earth tremors.
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Political historian Sir Anthony Seldon, writing in The Sunday Post today, said that despite suggestions Truss would be the most right-wing prime minister since Margaret Thatcher, tackling the cost of living, the threat of widespread industrial action and the NHS reaching breaking point will give her little space to implement her own ideas. If the prime minister does not lay out a clear plan, they are all the more likely to become thrown off course when the pressure piles on,” he said.
Truss last month labelled Nicola Sturgeon an “attention-seeker” who should be ignored, but political strategist and public affairs expert Ramsay Jones said the new prime minister would have to take a “pragmatic” approach to Scotland.
Jones, who was David Cameron’s special adviser on Scotland, said: “For the past month and a half, we’ve had candidates, especially Truss, playing to the electorate and telling people what they wanted to hear to secure votes.
“But the truth is what happens on day one of being in Downing Street is far more important than what was said during an election campaign. As ever with the party, it is going to be a tussle between muscular unionism and a more pragmatic approach, which I would argue has been the hallmark from the Cameron years onwards.
“They are the elected government, we have to deal with them, there’s business to be done, and you don’t give the SNP what they want, which is grievance. You offer them constructive engagement and it’s up to them if they want to turn that down.
“I’d envisage an early visit around the whole of the country to say ‘I am the prime minister for all four corners of the UK’. Week one will be appointing Cabinet ministers and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. Week two and three will be getting around the country and putting plans into action.”
© PAJones said he expected imminent announcements on two green freeports in Scotland and a carbon capture power station in Peterhead.
He said: “One of the first formal meetings David Cameron had outside London was with the first minister at Holyrood. Theresa May was also up in Scotland very quickly. I think it’s something that should be considered the new prime minister too.
“They should be saying to the leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ‘There are big ticket issues facing us all, why don’t we sit down together and find out where there is common ground so that we can work through them.’ That’s what the public expects grown up politicians to do.”
The Sunday Post view: A zombie government? We should be so lucky. At least zombies seem to know what they’re doing
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said tackling the cost-of-living crisis would be “front and centre” in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, which will be published on Tuesday.
Sturgeon said: “I will seek to work constructively with whoever becomes Prime Minister, although both candidates seem to have spent the campaign focused on how they can undermine the Scottish Parliament or put Scotland in its place, rather than engage with the legitimate aspirations of the people of Scotland.
“People in Scotland will be watching carefully how Westminster responds to the current emergency facing the UK. The ‘broad shoulders’ that we were told existed in 2014 are nowhere to be seen, and the promise of remaining in the EU and of lower energy bills were evidently not worth the paper they were written on. Instead a decade of austerity, Brexit and brutal welfare cuts have contributed hugely to the current cost crisis.”
Scottish Labour want to introduce an emergency Cost of Living Act, which would introduce a temporary rent freeze to protect tenants from soaring prices, a ban on winter evictions and changes to laws on debt.
Scottish Labour business manager Neil Bibby said: “Scots expect their parliaments to be focused on the issues that matter and their governments to use every power they have – but the SNP and the Tories are asleep at the wheel.
“We have a moral duty to act. Every party must back these plans to offer a lifeline to those snowed under with debt.”
THE IN-TRAY
by Mark Aitken
When the new Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen at Balmoral on Tuesday, he, or more likely, she will be faced with solving the problems of soaring inflation, millions of people being unable to afford their heating bills, businesses in dire need of rescue and waves of industrial action by striking workers.
Here, we ask charities, union chiefs and business leaders to offer their advice on what the new Prime Minister has to do in those first crucial months.
FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
With one in six Scottish businesses already talking about downsizing, selling or closing, there is not a moment to lose. We need to hear how the business tax burden is going to be reduced. What’s going to be done about the extra 20% that small businesses pay in VAT and when will we see the reversal of this year’s National Insurance hikes?
Then the PM should give cash grants to the hardest hit and give small business energy customers the same protections as domestic consumers, such as a price cap.
Colin Borland, director of devolved nations Federation of Small Businesses
SAVE THE CHILDREN
The new PM will have only 26 days to take action before energy bills soar again on October 1. We are calling for an emergency cost-of-living support package for children. The lifting of the energy price cap should be the driver to deliver a higher cost-of-living payment for low-income families with children.
The child element of Universal Credit should also be increased by £10 per week. It is impossible to overstate the catastrophe families face this winter if the new Prime Minister does not take urgent action. Children shouldn’t pay the price for this crisis.
Claire Telfer, Save the Children’s head of Scotland
AGE SCOTLAND
Many older people rely on their state pension to survive, but the UK Government’s removal of the triple lock last year had a big impact on their ability to keep up with surging bills.
The new PM must ensure this is reinstated and raise the value of pensions so those who are least able to keep up aren’t left further behind. A big investment in energy efficiency measures and home insulation support across the UK is also required.
There needs to be a campaign to boost social security uptake for support like pension credit, council tax reduction and attendance allowance.
Brian Sloan, Age Scotland chief executive
THE STUC
The next PM needs to stop wasting time trying to strip workers of their rights to defend pay and living standards. People on lower incomes are suffering and this country will face a humanitarian disaster this winter unless action is taken now.
The new PM should freeze energy prices and announce the nationalisation of the energy companies. We need to stop profiteering from our utilities and we need serious action to redistribute wealth.
However, my top ask is to call a general election and let all the people of the UK decide how this economic emergency should best be addressed.
Roz Foyer, STUC’s general secretary
CITIZENS ADVICE SCOTLAND
We have seen increased demand for energy advice and food insecurity advice. What will the most vulnerable do when temperatures drop and bills keep rising?
The uncomfortable truth is without urgent and radical intervention people will freeze or starve. Three things must happen. 1. The proposed increase in the energy price cap to £3,549 should not go ahead. 2. More support targeted at the most vulnerable must be delivered. 3. More support for advice services like CAB is essential. We desperately want to see action which will prevent a winter of debt and destitution.
Derek Mitchell, Citizens Advice Scotland CEO
FAQs
What did Liz Truss do before politics? ›
She has been Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk since 2010. Truss attended Merton College, Oxford, and was the president of Oxford University Liberal Democrats. In 1996, she joined the Conservative Party. She worked at Shell and Cable & Wireless, and was the deputy director of the think tank Reform.
How long has Liz Truss been government? ›After strong criticisms against her leadership and economic policies, especially from members of her party, on 20 October 2022, Truss announced her plan to resign as prime minister after 45 days in office, making her the shortest serving prime minister in the history of the United Kingdom.
Who is the new PM? ›Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on 25 October 2022. He was previously appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from 13 February 2020 to 5 July 2022.
How old is Liz Truss? › What position does Liz Truss hold? › Who is the shortest serving prime minister? ›Liz Truss is the shortest-serving former prime minister, resigning after seven weeks. The previous shortest time served was George Canning, who served for less than four months before dying in office. Margaret Thatcher is the longest serving prime minister in modern history serving for over 11 years.
How many political parties are there in the UK? ›The British political system is a two party system. Since the 1920s, the two dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
Who is the youngest UK prime minister? ›Age at winning a general election
In recent years, the youngest prime minister to be on the winning side at a general election was David Cameron, who was 43 years and 209 days old when he led the Conservative Party to victory as the largest party in the 2010 general election. William Ewart Gladstone, was the oldest.
| Prime Minister of India | |
|---|---|
| Incumbent Narendra Modi since 26 May 2014 | |
| Prime Minister's Office | |
| Style | The Honourable Mr. Prime Minister (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Type | Head of government |
| BJP (2) INC/INC(I)/INC(R) (6+1 acting) JD (3) JP (1) JP(S) (1) SJP(R) (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Name (birth and death) | Time in office |
| 5 | Charan Singh (1902–1987) | 170 days |
| (3) | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) | 4 years, 291 days |
| 6 | Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991) | 5 years, 32 days |
Who is current PM advisor? ›
| Designations | Officer Name | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Secretary to PM | Dr. P. K. Mishra | 23013040 |
| National Security Advisor | Sh. Ajit Doval KC | 23019227 |
| Advisor to PM | Sh. Amit Khare | 23018485 |
| Sh. Tarun Kapoor | 23010838 |
| Date | Entitlement | Claimed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2016 | £152,532 | £150,402 |
| 1 Apr 2017 | £153,907 | £151,451 |
| 1 Apr 2018 | £155,602 | £152,819 |
| 1 Apr 2019 | £158,754 | £154,908 |
Hugh O'Leary (born 1974) is an English accountant and the husband of Liz Truss, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Where does Liz Truss come from? › Can a Lord be prime minister? ›Indeed, certain privileges, such as residency of 10 Downing Street, are accorded to prime ministers by virtue of their position as First Lord of the Treasury. In 2019, the office of Minister for the Union was established; Boris Johnson became the first prime minister to hold this title.
Who is PM India? ›Shri Narendra Modi was sworn-in as India's Prime Minister on 30th May 2019, marking the start of his second term in office.
How many prime ministers went to Oxford? ›A list of prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the educational institutions they attended. As of October 2022, of the 57 prime ministers to date, 30 were educated at the University of Oxford (including 13 at Christ Church), and 14 at the University of Cambridge (including six at Trinity College).
Who is the shortest serving prime minister of Pakistan? ›Nurul Amin of the Muslim League had the shortest term, at 13 days. Yousaf Raza Gilani of PPP had the longest consecutive term of 4 years and 86 days.
Who is the shortest serving chief minister in India? ›Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
Kalyan Singh moved Allahabad High Court which termed the dismissal of government unconstitutional on 23 February 1998, thereby reinstating the Kalyan Singh government. He holds the record for the shortest stint as Chief Minister of any state in India for just one day.
Bahrain's Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa is the longest-serving Prime Minister in the world. On August 15, 1970, more than a year before Bahrain became independent, he assumed office.
What are the 5 political parties? ›
Today, America is a multi-party system. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the most powerful. Yet other parties, such as the Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, Natural Law, Constitution, and Green Parties can promote candidates in a presidential election.
How many parties are there in politics? ›The electoral system in the U.S. is called a two-party system. That means that two parties dominate the political field in all three levels of government. In the U.S. these two parties are the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
What are the 3 main political parties in UK? ›| Party | Founded | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative and Unionist Party | 1834 | Rishi Sunak |
| Labour Party Co-operative Party | 1900 1917 (Co-op) | Keir Starmer |
| Scottish National Party | 1934 | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Liberal Democrats | 1988 | Ed Davey |
At 40, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India, perhaps even one of the youngest elected heads of Government in the world. His mother, Smt. Indira Gandhi, was eight years older when she first became Prime Minister in 1966.
Who becomes India's youngest prime minister? ›Gandhi took his oath on 31 December 1984; at 40, he was the youngest prime minister of India.
Who became the youngest prime minister? ›Upon her confirmation by Parliament at the age of 34, she became Finland's youngest-ever Prime Minister, and was the youngest serving state leader until Sebastian Kurz regained that description in January 2020.
What is the salary of chief minister? ›Salary. – (1) The salary of the Chief Minister and that of a Minister shall respectively be thirty nine thousand rupees and thirty five thousand rupees per month.
What is the maximum age limit for PM in India? ›The Prime Minister age limit in India is not mentioned in the constitution. The normal term of a Prime Minister in India is five years.
Who was the first woman PM of India? ›Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Hindi: [ˈɪnd̪ɪɾɑː ˈɡɑːnd̪ʰi] ( listen); née Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress.
Who is the 13th number of prime minister of India? ›Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: [mənˈmoːɦən ˈsɪ́ŋɡ] ( listen); born 26 September 1932) is an Indian politician, economist and statesman who was the 13th prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014.
How can I become MP in India? ›
Eligibility criteria
Must not be less than 25 years of age. Must be a sound person. Must not be convicted by the court with imprisonment of two Or more years. Must be a voter for any parliamentary constituency in India.
| No | Name (birth–death); constituency | Term of office |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) MP for Rae Bareli | 11 years, 59 days |
| 4 | Morarji Desai (1896–1995) MP for Surat | 2 years, 126 days |
| 5 | Charan Singh (1902–1987) MP for Baghpat | 170 days |
| (3) | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) MP for Medak | 4 years, 291 days |
Rajiv Gauba (born 15 August 1959; IAST: Rājīva Gaubā) is an Indian civil servant serving as the current Cabinet Secretary of India since 2019.
Who is assistant PM of India? ›| No. | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallabhbhai Patel | INC |
| 2 | Morarji Desai | INC |
| 3 | Lal Krishna Advani | BJP |
Shri Narendra Modi was sworn-in as India's Prime Minister on 30th May 2019, marking the start of his second term in office.
What is the average salary in the UK? ›What is the Average UK Salary in 2021/2022? According to the ONS, in 2021 the average UK salary was £38,131 for a full-time role and £13,549 for a part-time role. This is a slight decrease from the average UK salary in 2020, which placed the average UK wage for a full-time role at £38,552 and part-time at £13,819.
Do British MPs pay tax? ›All MPs have to complete a Self Assessment tax return. Most employees do not need to use Self Assessment to complete tax returns. This is because Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and other tax-deduction systems collect the tax which is due or give the right allowances and reliefs.
How do I become an MP? ›You become a Member of Parliament (MP) by being elected in a by-election or general election. You can stand for election as a member of a political party or as an independent candidate. Each political party has its own selection procedure.
Is Priti Patel married? ›Personal life. Patel has been married to Alex Sawyer since 2004. Sawyer is a marketing consultant for the stock exchange NASDAQ. He is also a Conservative councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities on the council of the London Borough of Bexley.
What age is Penny Mordaunt? ›What is truss in structure? ›
truss, in engineering, a structural member usually fabricated from straight pieces of metal or timber to form a series of triangles lying in a single plane. (A triangle cannot be distorted by stress.)
Who owns panel truss? ›Donnie Powers acquired the Company from the estates of past partners in 1988. Donnie's brother Bo joined the Company in 1992. In 2001, the company moved its operations from Longview, Texas to Henderson, Texas about 25 miles south.
Where is Liz Truss from originally? › What did Nadine Dorries do before politics? ›Early career. From 1978 to 1981, Dorries was a nurse in Warrington and Liverpool according to a 2009 report. Her CV when she was a parliamentary candidate in 2001 stated Liverpool and London as places where she worked as a nurse.
Is Penny Mordaunt a Brexit supporter? ›After the 2015 general election, Cameron promoted her to Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the first woman to hold the post. Mordaunt supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum on EU membership.
What is the salary of prime minister of UK? ›| Date | Entitlement | Claimed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2016 | £152,532 | £150,402 |
| 1 Apr 2017 | £153,907 | £151,451 |
| 1 Apr 2018 | £155,602 | £152,819 |
| 1 Apr 2019 | £158,754 | £154,908 |
William Pitt the Younger (28 May 1759 – 23 January 1806) was a British statesman, the youngest and last prime minister of Great Britain (before the Acts of Union 1800) and then first prime minister of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Ireland) as of January 1801.
How tall is Theresa May? › How old is Sunak? › How many cabinet ministers are there? ›What is the Cabinet? The Cabinet is the main body that controls policy and coordinates activities of governmental departments. It is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of most of the ministerial heads of departments, as well as some additional members. During peacetime it typically consists of 20 members.
Which constituency does Nadine Dorries represent? ›
Mid Bedfordshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Nadine Dorries, of the Conservative Party.
What position does Nadine Dorries hold? › Is Kit Malthouse an MP? ›A member of the Conservative Party, he previously served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from July to September 2022. He has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Hampshire since 2015.
What is Penny Mordaunt's role? ›