Truss takes to Downing Street
After her victory in the leadership election on Monday, Liz Truss visited Balmoral to ask the Queen to form a new Government and become Prime Minister.
After formally becoming Prime Minister, Truss made her way to No.10 to make her first speech as Prime Minister, to lay out her initial plan for Government.
In a fit of weather, indicative of the problems she will have in her in-tray, the heavens opened upon those waiting to hear her speak in Downing Street.
Truss’ speech focused on three core pillars for the early days of her Government, underpinned by her libertarian desire to back freedom and enterprise. The pillars were: action to ‘get Britain working again’ by growing the economy, pursuing tax cuts and reform; action to deal with the energy crisis with a pledge for a major intervention to help businesses and households this week; and making sure people can get doctor’s appointments by safeguarding the future of the NHS.
Along with this, Truss put a focus on ‘spades in the ground’, with reference both to energy and housing. This could perhaps point towards planning reform and reforms to the way in which the UK can build on its energy supply. This is a politically dangerous area, with Boris Johnson’s Government abandoning planning reform after the threat of a significant parliamentary rebellion.
Never a natural speechmaker, Truss’ oratory was serious and filled with concrete priorities for her to deliver and therefore be judged by. It also highlighted the difference between her and Boris Johnson. She eschewed the ‘boosterism’ of Johnson and instead levelled with the public as to the tough times ahead. Gone is the flowery prose, and instead is replaced by clear and plain rhetoric.
Whether Truss can deliver on her promises of action and reform in a condensed timeframe ahead of a general election, and ultimately navigate the country through these tough times, remains to be seen.
Please see below for the analysis from our Edelman Global Advisory team. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like further information or to discuss how Edelman can help support your engagement with the Government and the wider Conservative Party.