LThe British will know today the name of their new head of government, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Truss as Favorite to succeed Boris Johnson and take over the reins of a country shaken by soaring prices.
Two months after the resignation of Johnson, plagued by multiple scandals, the result of the Conservative Party internal vote to replace it as leader of the formation and therefore also as prime minister.
Polls widely put Truss, 47, as the election favorite, in which some participated 200,000 training affiliates.
If it is imposed as planned his rival, former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, a billionaire ex-banker who is the grandson of Indian immigrants, it will become in the third British prime minister, after the also conservative Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) and Theresa May (2016-2019).
The race for leadership began in July, when the controversial Johnson was pushed by his own party to resign.
Voting by mail and online was closed on Friday, After eight weeks of campaigning Truss described to the BBC as “the longest job interview in history”.
The result, however, is not necessarily representative of the wishes of the 67 million British.
In a poll conducted by YouGov in late August, 52% of respondents considered that Truss would be a “bad” or “terrible” prime minister in case of being chosen.
43% stated that they do not trust her “at all” when it comes to tackling the problem of the growing cost of living, which has dominated the news for weeks.
The next head of government will meet “the worst entrance for a new prime minister since Thatcher”, according to the Sunday Times.
In context: Elizabeth II will receive the new prime minister in Scotland, not in London
Possible price freeze
The country is feeling the effects of inflation of 10%, its highest level in 40 years, fueled by a spike in energy prices induced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the use of gas as a political weapon.
An inflation that during the summer gave rise to numerous strikes and promises an autumn marked by protests.
The energy bill of households will rise 80% from October, and millions of families face a painful dilemma between eating and heating their homes this winter.
“If I am elected prime minister, I will act immediately on the issue of bills and energy supply”Truss told the BBC on Sunday, without giving details.
According to various British media, he is contemplating a freezing of energy prices.
On Monday he promised, in the pages of two popular newspapers, the Sun and the Daily Mail, to “do everything possible” to ensuring that every Briton has “the opportunity to go as far as their talents and hard work can take them”.
During his campaign he promised to lower taxes and prioritize economic growth. And on Sunday he announced that “in a month” will present a complete tax reduction plan “to jump-start the British economy”, which is on the verge of recession.
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transfer of power
The change of prime minister will not take place, however, until Tuesday, when Johnson will deliver his farewell speech in Downing Street.
He will then travel to Balmoral, Elizabeth II’s summer residence in Scotland, 800 km north of London, to present your formal resignation of the queenwho will then name his successor.
For the first time in his 70-year reign, Elizabeth II, 96, will not travel to London for this ceremony, due to his increasing mobility problems.
More information: The new British prime minister will be announced on September 5
The new head of government will then return to the capital to deliver his first speech before the famous black door of number 10 Downing Street, form a government and debate Wednesday in Parliament with the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer.
