Liz Truss to become UK PM, pledges to “start cutting taxes from day one”

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has beaten former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, winning the ruling Conservative Party’s leadership contest.

Truss, 47, will meet Queen Elizabeth II for the “kissing of hands” ceremony with the monarch on Tuesday. After being formally asked by the Queen to form a government, Truss is to become Britain’s third female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.

Notably, all female prime ministers so far have been Conservative.

Truss has also worked for three former prime ministers. She was promoted by David Cameron to environment secretary and worked as justice secretary under Theresa May. She was eventually made foreign secretary by Boris Johnson in 2021.

An Oxford graduate, Truss had worked for 10 years in the energy and telecommunications sectors before entering politics.

Truss, who was elected as a Conservative member of parliament in 2010, has served in various government departments since 2012, including international trade secretary and minister for women and equalities. In September 2021, she became foreign secretary.

Truss is married with two children.

Liz Truss is the Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Liz has also been appointed Minister for Women and Equalities.