Britain's Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has stepped down after only 44 days in office. The news was first announced in the Daily Telegraph. The Conservative party leader was criticized for her decision to hold a snap election last year, which led to the Conservatives losing their majority in Parliament. Truss has blamed Brexit's ongoing negotiation for her decision to step down, saying she wanted her to "have their headspace and focus on what is happening with Europe." The UK's new Prime Minister will be decided by Theresa May, leader of the Conservative Party and current Home Secretary.
This article discusses England's Prime Minister, Liz Truss, stepping down after 44 days in office and explains why.
Who is Mrs.Truss?
Since Margaret Thatcher, Mrs. Truss had been the country's first female prime minister. However, the 44-year-old elected on 9 July was among over half a dozen Conservative politicians who lost their seats in Thursday's general election.
The UK won't get a new PM until at least 11 October. Scotland's parliament will also have to agree to the appointment of whoever takes over from Mrs. Truss, and she is likely to continue as caretaker leader until then or thereabouts.
Mrs. Truss, believed to have resigned on Friday, was elected as the leader of the Conservative Party by 130,000 party members in July. She watched the results of last week's general election at her home on Thursday night with her husband and young son before returning to work.
A Truss resignation
Her resignation comes nearly four decades after Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister in 1979. Mrs. Truss' predecessor Theresa May held the top job from 2016-19. A woman has led the Conservative party for over two years.
"My vision for a brighter future for this country is just beginning," said Mrs. Truss.
A cabinet meeting on Friday was expected to endorse the Queen's Speech, which Brexit will dominate. The Conservatives have tried to keep a wide range of options open to form a stable government.
The Conservatives will be subject to a formidable line of criticism if they remove Truss: This is not democratic.
When Truss implemented a series of significant tax cuts, she already encountered this criticism. What authority did Truss, who had acquired a majority rather than running for office herself, have to enact such radical reforms? (The measures were eventually undone by Jeremy Hunt, Truss's new finance minister, who failed to lead the party in a general election and failed in two previous attempts to do so.)
Mrs. Truss was not expected to offer any immediate apology for her relatively short time as prime minister. Still, she did say she had enjoyed the opportunity to represent Britain worldwide.
"I have loved being your prime minister, and I have been so grateful for your support and I am so thankful for being able to serve you during these past few weeks," she said.
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