Liz Truss becomes Prime Minister after meeting the Queen
The Tory leader is now officially the UK Prime Minister
Last updated 6th Sep 2022
Liz Truss has officially become the Prime Minister of the UK after visiting the Queen in Balmoral.
Ms Truss won the contest to succeed Mr Johnson as Tory leader on Monday, but she didn't become Prime Minister until she was invited to form a government by Her Majesty.
The new Prime Minister followed Mr Johnson to the Queen’s Scottish estate and, shortly after he tendered his resignation, she had an audience with the monarch to become the 15th premier of her reign.
Prime Minister Truss will now head to Downing Street later today to deliver her first speech in office.
Ms Truss’ top priority will be to deliver a package of support for households and businesses facing crippling energy costs, with speculation she is working on a plan to freeze bills which could cost tens of billions.
Boris resigns
Before Ms Truss could be asked by the Queen to form a government, former leader Boris Johnson went to Balmoral to formally resign.
Mr Johnson was greeted by the Queen’s private Secretary Sir Edward Young and her Equerry Lieutenant Colonel Tom White, and said “good morning” a number of times to the Queen’s aides and a small group of waiting media.
Pages were on hand to open the doors of the chauffeur-driven car which arrived in light rain and stopped at the front door of Balmoral Castle.
Boris Johnson's farewell speech
Earlier today Boris Johnson pledged his “fervent support” for successor Liz Truss as she prepared to take over as prime minister and deliver a plan to address the energy crisis.
In his farewell speech outside No 10, the outgoing Prime Minister said his successor’s administration would do “everything we can” to help people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
In a sign of lingering resentment at the manner in which he was forced out, Mr Johnson said “the baton will be handed over in what has unexpectedly turned out to be a relay race, they changed the rules halfway through, but never mind that now”.
He said his career was now like a booster rocket “that has fulfilled its function and I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the Pacific”.
Mr Johnson said “I will be offering this government nothing but my most fervent support”, calling for Tories to unite behind the new leader at a “tough time for the economy”.
“I say to my fellow Conservatives, it’s time for politics to be over, folks,” he said.
Liz Truss's political journey
Liz Truss Downing Street
Liz Truss has been an MP for South West Norfolk since 2010. She was born in Oxford but her family moved to Paisley and then to Leeds. She was an activist for the Liberal Democrats while studying at Oxford but switched to the Conservatives in 1996.
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
After a number of elimination rounds of voting by Conservative MPs Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak emerged as the two names going through to the ballot of Conservative Party members - Mr Sunak comfortably won the ballot of MPs.
Liz Truss and Brexit
Liz Truss famously reversed her position on Brexit. During the 2016 referendum, she spoke passionately in favour of Remain but became an advocate of the decision to leave the EU saying in 2022 that decision to back remain was "wrong."
Liz Truss Justice Secretary
Among her five cabinet posts, Liz Truss was Justice Secretary 2014-16 and the first woman in 1000 years to become Lord Chancellor. Since September 2021 Ms Truss has been Foreign Secretary in Boris Johnson's government.
Liz Truss hustings
The six week Conservative leadership contest saw Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak appear at hustings events across the UK, with the event in Perth the only visit in Scotland.
Liz Truss Moscow
A fortnight before Vladimir Putin's Russia invaded Ukraine, Liz Truss, as Foreign Secretary, took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall in Moscow.
Liz Truss leader
Liz Truss becomes the third woman to hold the post of Prime Minister following Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
Liz Truss Treasury
During the Theresa May era Liz Truss served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury - the number two to Chancellor Philip Hammond.