Who is Liz Truss, the favourite to become Britain’s next PM?

Truss, now overseas chief, remained loyal to Boris Johnson as he confronted a revolt and is promising the general public tax cuts.

Liz Truss was as soon as a member of the centrist Liberal Democrats occasion and voted to stay within the EU, however has since change into a number one Conservative who believes in Brexit [File: Alastair Grant/AP]

Liz Truss, a right-wing politician of the Conservative Occasion, is at the moment favorite to change into Britain’s subsequent prime minister, to substitute scandal-hit Boris Johnson.

The 47-year-old entered Parliament in 2010, and by 2014, she settled into her first cupboard place – secretary of state for setting, meals and rural affairs beneath David Cameron.

She since served beneath Theresa Could and Johnson in numerous positions. In 2021, she was handed the highest position of overseas secretary.

However she has not at all times been a Conservative. Raised by left-wing mother and father, she was a teenaged member of the centrist Liberal Democrats, and at 19, referred to as for the abolition of the monarchy.

Now, “Truss is on the [Conservative] occasion’s proper, and she or he is an instinctive free-trade libertarian and isn't a pure supporter of levelling up,” David Jeffery, lecturer in British politics on the College of Liverpool, advised Al Jazeera, referring to a coverage touted by Johnson geared toward lowering inequality.

Within the June 2016 referendum on European Union membership, Truss voted in contradiction to Johnson and was in favour of remaining within the bloc.

“Though she supported ‘stay’ within the referendum, she has, with the zeal of the convert, change into a agency pro-leave politician,” stated Jeffery.

He believes that her work as overseas minister was unimpressive.

“Truss’s tenure as overseas secretary was fairly low-key. She was a really lively (and social-media savvy) worldwide commerce secretary, however appeared to fade as a overseas secretary. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she was overshadowed by the prime minister and the defence secretary, Ben Wallace,” Jeffery stated.

In contrast to her competitor Rishi Sunak, Truss was among the many few cupboard members who remained loyal to Johnson earlier this month as he confronted a celebration revolt.

This sense of loyalty appears to be appreciated, and might be why she is the present favorite to run the federal government. She has secured the assist of main Conservative politicians, together with Wallace and a former looking forward to the premiership, Tom Tugendhat.

Within the coming weeks, Conservative Occasion members will determine who will succeed Johnson.

A latest YouGov survey discovered 31 p.c intend to vote for Sunak, whereas 49 p.c plan to vote for Truss.

Whereas a win appears believable, the race shouldn't be but run, Alan Convery, senior lecturer in politics on the College of Edinburgh, cautioned.

He advised Al Jazeera: “She begins in a robust place as a result of opinion polls of Conservative members present that she is forward. Nevertheless, there's a lengthy technique to go between now and September [when the result will be announced]. Sunak can be doing all he can to attraction to the membership.”

As overseas secretary, Truss promoted “International Britain”, searching for to strengthen the UK’s position in worldwide politics.

In 2021, she outlined her understanding of British overseas coverage throughout a speech at Chatham Home, figuring out an ideological battle between freedom and authoritarian regimes corresponding to in Russia and China.

She cited the Complete and Progressive Commerce Settlement (CPTPA) between 11 Pacific states, which she thought of a bulwark towards China and which London ought to be a part of. This was a imaginative and prescient that was “in its essence, Thatcherite”, the Economist journal famous afterwards.

Truss by no means tires of declaring her admiration for former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Nevertheless, this comparability doesn't at all times profit her.

For months she has been entertaining the British with professionally styled photographs which are nearly a carbon copy of Thatcher moments, corresponding to when she visited Moscow, wearing an extended coat and fur hat – identical to Thatcher 35 years earlier.

Truss is pledging 30 billion kilos ($37bn) in tax cuts, much like Thatcher, who decreased private revenue tax within the Nineteen Eighties, and guarantees speedy motion to assist individuals deal with the rising price of residing.

The tax lower, in keeping with Truss, would rein inflation whereas boosting progress.

“Trussonomics” is the time period used for her proposal, her very personal model of supply-side economics, a key function of Thatcher’s financial insurance policies.

Her plans additionally embody rescinding a deliberate improve in company revenue tax and reversing the latest improve in social safety charges.

And on the cultural entrance, Truss has declared warfare on “id politics”.

“There isn't any query that Truss has often styled herself after Thatcher. However whereas Thatcher had a transparent thought of what she needed the nation to appear to be, it's not clear Truss has the identical imaginative and prescient,” stated Jeffery. “Truss’s appreciation of Thatcher (and, it ought to be stated, Sunak’s) are based mostly on a partial understanding of Thatcher, or a caricature of what Thatcher/Thatcherism truly was.”

Apart from Thatcher, Truss additionally affords post-Boris Johnson continuity, notably regarding Brexit.

However whereas she was seen as a tricky negotiator with the bloc and “very bellicose on the EU, [this] gained’t truly remedy any of the problems [between the UK and EU] in Northern Eire or France.”

Requested about her U-turn in 2017, from pro-remain to pro-leave, Truss stated the “large financial issues haven’t come to move” and “I’ve additionally seen the alternatives”.

“Having been a ‘Remainer’, she has now positioned herself as a champion of the alternatives of Brexit and has subsequently attained the assist of key supporters of Brexit like [Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency Jacob] Rees-Mogg,” Convery stated.

In essence, Truss would indicate extra continuity with Johnson than Sunak, as Britain’s subsequent PM, Convery stated.

“I feel she would wish to eradicate the entire Johnson-era unforced errors within the Downing Avenue operation however proceed with fairly a confrontational strategy in direction of Brussels. Nevertheless, if she carries out her promise to chop tax, it could mark a departure from the financial emphasis beneath Johnson.”