D’ Day for Truss: ‘Surrender’ and exit for Boris
News Desk
London: Yesterday, Boris Johnson travelled to Balmoral in Scotland to tender his resignation to the Queen. Shortly after, Liz Truss was formally ‘invited’ by Her Majesty to form the next government. The Conservative party with a working majority of 75 will retain the government.
The handover ceremony took place at Balmoral in Scotland because Queen was unable to travel to London due to issues with her mobility. Last time a similar ceremony was held in Balmoral was in 1885.
Liz Truss is the 3rd female prime minister of Britain, and 15th prime minister of the Queen’s reign.
The outgoing Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has graciously declared his backing for Truss by stating, “it’s time for us all to get behind Truss”. This is in the best tradition of a democratic change, something that is unknown in the defaulted democracy of Pakistan.
Afterwards, the new Prime Minister set about naming her cabinet. This involved appointments to top-tier ministerial positions. Thus far:
Kwasi Kwarteng is appointed as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dr Thérèse Coffey Health & Social Care Sec and also be Deputy Prime Minister, James Cleverly as FCDO Sec ( Foreign Secretary), and Suella Braverman, the new Home Secretary.
It is notable that three of the top ministerial positions have gone to members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. This has to be encouraging omen for the future.
The most pressing issue before the new Prime Minister and her team is that of soaring energy prices. There is no easy get-out clause regarding this. Already, it is being indicated that the prices of energy for households will be frozen at the current levels for the next eighteen months. This is estimated to cost the government around £100 billion alone.
On the international front, Ukraine will remain a fraught issue. We know that the Russians are not too pleased with her becoming the Prime Minister. As Foreign Secretary under Boris, her open, no hold back criticism of Moscow over Ukraine did not endear her to the Russian leadership.
Into this melting pot of challenges for the new team at the helm, if we throw in the spiralling costs of living, rising inflation, NHS, deflated economy and the current industrial actions, the task ahead is humongous.
A change has to be for better. I hardly see experienced and bold appointments which is currently much needed given the challenges we currently face. Never-the-less, Liz Truss has 2 years to prove themselves before the next election. Hardly sufficient time to bring new changes, implement and deliver impact. I am too glad to see BAME appointments at cabinet. We will have to give them time to settle into these positions and be impactful.