Liz Truss today resigned as the UK’s Prime Minister earlier this afternoon. Here is Liz Truss’ resignation speech:
I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability. Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent, and our country has been held back for too long by low economic growth.
“I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. We delivered on energy bills and on cutting National Insurance, and we set out a vision for a low-tax, high-growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.`
“I recognise, though, that given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I’ve therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.
“This morning I met the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady. We’ve agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week. This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security.
Prime Minister Liz Truss’ resignation
“I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen. Thank you.
It is believed that a new Prime Minister will be appointed by next Friday.
While President Macron of France wished for a quick stability for the UK Government, the Russian Government was more derisory in its comments about Liz Truss’ leadership. The resignation of Liz Truss was hailed by Russia’s foreign ministry, which called her a “disgrace” of a leader who will be remembered for her “catastrophic illiteracy.”
According to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, “Britain has never had such a disgrace of a prime minister.”
The allegation of illiteracy appears to be in reference to Ms. Truss’ trip to Moscow during her time as foreign minister just before Russia attacked Ukraine. She appeared to mistake two districts of Russia for Ukraine at a meeting with Russia’s seasoned foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, prompting ridicule from the Russian diplomat and from talk programmes on Russian state TV.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian politician and former Russian President, tweeted: “Bye, bye @trussliz, congrats to lettuce.”, a thinly disguised reference to the Daily Star’s headline on whether Ms. Truss’ term in office would be shorter than the wilting shelf life of a lettuce.
So, who is next as Britain’s Prime Minister, possibly Larry the No. 10 Cat?
Cicero's 