Norfolk's Leaders congratulate Liz Truss on reshuffle promotion
She's the first woman in over a decade to be made Foreign Secretary.
Last updated 16th Sep 2021
Norfolk council leaders have congratulated South-West Norfolk MP Liz Truss for her promotion to the role of Foreign Secretary.
Ms Truss on Wednesday became the first woman in over a decade to occupy the prestigious role, and only the second in history – after Margaret Beckett.
First elected in 2010, Ms Truss represents constituents across Thetford, Downham Market, Swaffham and surrounding villages.
Conservative county council leader Andrew Proctor said: “She’s been in government for quite some time now, seven years, on a consistent basis, so fair play to her.
“We’ve got two things in Liz: an experienced minister, and also an experienced minister who’s a Norfolk MP, so we hope to work closely with her together in the future.”
Asked what the move could mean for her constituents, he said: “They elect her, don’t they, so from that point of view, I’m sure she’ll make sure she keeps in contact with them to ensure she gets elected again.”
Breckland District Council’s Conservative leader Sam Chapman-Allen said: “She’s done immensely well with the trade negotiations and I think we only have one opportunity to get this right, post-Brexit.
“It’s all about reputations and making sure that you’re landing those correctly, and I think she’s done that across the international stage immensely well – the trade deals alone, but more importantly how the United Kingdom is perceived across the world as a standalone nation, since we departed the EU.”
He added: “It means a lot for the constituency locally, having such a senior cabinet member, and it will ensure that Norfolk is absolutely, quite rightly, acknowledged for what it does, what it offers and what it can continue to offer.”
Stuart Dark, Conservative leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, said he was “very pleased”.
“Whilst she will undoubtedly be very busy in her new role, Liz has been a keen, active supporter of the borough and local residents for many years and I liaise with her and her office regularly on a range of important issues, two notable examples of late being the Covid response and the QEH bid. I have every confidence that this will continue.
“Having such a well-connected, highly regarded MP, in a senior cabinet position as an interested advocate and informed advisor can only be a good thing for West Norfolk.”