TRUSS. Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Thursday, October 20, 2022. Who will replace her?
[Mise à jour le 20 octobre à 15h38] 44 short days. Liz Truss remained Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for only 44 days. The last head of government enthroned by Queen Elizabeth II announced her resignation on Thursday, October 20, 2022, cornered politically on all sides in the face of the wave of resignations among her ministers. “We had a vision for lower taxes but also to support Brexit. I recognize that, in view of the situation, I cannot continue the mandate for which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I present my resignation from the position of leader of the Conservative Party to King Charles III”, she announced in a speech outside 10 Downing Street in London, the residence of the Prime Minister.
Less than two months after taking office, Liz Truss will therefore be replaced as head of the British government. An election will take place “by next week”, she indicated. But who could take over from the short-lived successor of Boris Johnson ? The latter could return to the political game according to The Guardian, who established a first list of suitors. Liz Truss’ predecessor wouldn’t be the only one in the race. Rishi Sunakformer British finance minister and loser of the last primary against Liz Truss, would still covet the post, as well as Penny Mordauntshe who was also in the running this summer. Ben Wallacecurrent Minister of Defence, and Michael Gove, Johnson’s former secretary of state, are also considered for the post. For his part, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance), Jérémy Hunt, has made it known that he will not appear, he told the BBC.
Why did Liz Truss quit?
Coming to power on September 5, Liz Truss was quickly weakened because of her economic promises. While a £45 billion tax cut plan was initially announced on September 23, it was finally canceled on October 3. The now future ex-Prime Minister then dismissed her finance minister to replace him with a new Chancellor of the Exchequer, who also announced the cancellation of the tax cuts. These reversals had a significant impact on the British economy. But that’s not all. Liz Truss also had to wipe out the resignation of her Home Secretary over differences over immigration.
The shortest mandate in history, marked by the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Remaining only 44 days in post, Liz Truss made the shortest stay in history at 10 Downing Street. Before her, the (very old) record was held by George Canning, who was Prime Minister from April 10 to August 8… 1827, i.e. for 3 months and 29 days. But his tenure, however short, was marked above all by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which occurred on September 8, 2022. The two women had met two days earlier, on September 6, at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, thus officially recording the post of the one who succeeded Boris Johnson. 15th and last head of government of the sovereign, she was the first, after the close family, to have been alerted to the death of the Queen. She then became the first Prime Minister of King Charles III.