Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Truss to meet cabinet, face MPs on first full day in power

Meanwhile, the Bank of England has tipped the country to fall into recession later this year.

Truss to meet cabinet, face MPs on first full day in power

Britain's new prime minister Liz Truss convenes her senior ministers for an inaugural cabinet meeting on Wednesday on her first full day in office, before she faces a barrage of questions in parliament.

Truss, who officially became leader Tuesday at an audience with the head of state Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland after the resignation of Boris Johnson, is set to meet her top team at a morning meeting.


They include the most diverse top team in British history ever: Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor of the Exchequer, James Cleverly as foreign secretary and Suella Braverman as interior minister.

They face a daunting in-tray of issues, most notably decades-high inflation and how to deal with energy bills set to rise by 80 percent next month and then again in January.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England has tipped the country to fall into recession later this year.

She must also navigate the combustible issue of post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, and in one of her first calls with a foreign leader late Tuesday, she agreed with US President Joe Biden "on the importance of protecting" peace in the province.

In its readout of the call, the White House also said Truss and Biden addressed "the challenges posed by China (and) preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon."

But Truss was bullish as she entered Downing Street for the first time as premier, narrowly avoiding a heavy downpour.

"I am confident that together we can ride out the storm," she said.

Her new ministers may be asked to sign off immediately on a plan to freeze energy bills for the coming winter, possibly longer, a measure that would cost tens of billions of pounds, according to reports.

Tax cuts and diverting some health funding to social care could also reportedly be on the agenda.

"I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investment," Truss promised, while also vowing "action this week" on gas and electricity bills and broader energy policy.

'Almost ungovernable' 

After Cabinet, Truss will travel to the House of Commons to spar with opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, in the rival pair's first Prime Minister's Questions session.

The often-rowdy weekly session, which sees the prime minister quizzed by MPs, will test Truss's political mettle and rhetorical skills as well as her level of Conservative support.

The 47-year-old won an internal ballot of Tory members on Monday, securing 57 percent of the vote, after a gruelling contest against former finance minister Rishi Sunak that began in July.

But the initial stage of the contest saw her net the support of less than a third of the parliamentary party.

She now faces a tough challenge reuniting the ruling Tories following a bitter leadership battle.

Conservative MPs are "almost ungovernable" and have "no appetite to cope with difficult decisions," according to a government insider quoted by the Financial Times on Monday.

"They did for Boris and they may do for Liz, too," the source told the paper.

Truss will likely face a volley of hostile questions from Starmer and the Labour ranks, as they look to capitalise on months of Tory disarray.

Labour has opened up a double-digit lead in the polls but may have to wait two years for the next general election.

Truss vowed Monday to lead the Conservatives to victory "in 2024", with an election due by January 2025 at the latest.

'Dreadful policy' 

Truss, who pitched herself to the Tory grassroots as a tax-cutting free-trade champion ready to slash taxes immediately to turbo-charge growth, faces warnings that these moves could make inflation worse.

The UK has already seen prices rise this year at their steepest rate for four decades, driven by spiralling energy costs.

Under her mooted plans to tackle the situation, gas and electricity bills for both households and businesses would be capped near current levels for the coming winter at least.

The government would lend or guarantee private sector loans to energy providers to make up the difference they pay with soaring global wholesale prices.

It remains unclear whether the government will pay for the plan through extra borrowing or ask consumers to pick up the tab over the next two decades through levies on their energy bills.

Paul Johnson, of the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think-tank, said it was "a dreadful policy" but likely necessary.

"Hugely expensive, untargeted, increases risk of shortages," he noted on Twitter.

But he warned the scale of the problem "means there may just be no practical alternative."

(AFP)

More For You

pubs-england-iStock

Previous VE Day anniversaries, royal events and sporting occasions such as the Euro 2024 final have also seen similar extensions. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Pubs in England and Wales to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

PUBS and bars in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 01:00 BST on Thursday 8 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the government has confirmed.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said venues that usually close at 23:00 will be able to continue serving for two extra hours.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harsimrat Randhawa

The victim, Harsimrat Randhawa, was studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton. (Photo credit: Hamilton Police)

Hamilton Police

Indian student dies in Canada after being hit by stray bullet

A 21-YEAR-OLD Indian student was killed in Ontario, Canada, after being hit by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop on her way to work.

The victim, Harsimrat Randhawa, was studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh-Pakistan

The meeting took place days ahead of Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar's scheduled visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28. (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Bangladesh, Pakistan resume top-level talks after 15 years

BANGLADESH on Thursday raised several longstanding concerns with Pakistan, including a public apology over the 1971 atrocities, during the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in 15 years.

Bangladesh also asked Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share of undivided assets from when East Pakistan became independent Bangladesh in 1971.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keir Starmer

Starmer thanked Christians for their community work, including support through night shelters, youth clubs, toddler groups, family services, elderly care and chaplaincy. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer thanks Christians for community work in Easter message

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer extended Easter wishes to Christians across the UK, marking the end of Lent and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In his Easter message, Starmer said the story of Easter is central to the Christian faith. He acknowledged Christians facing hardship, persecution or conflict globally who cannot celebrate freely.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump-Charles

Trump previously made a state visit to the UK in 2019 during his first term as president. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump says he expects to meet King Charles in September

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Thursday he expects to meet King Charles in the UK in September. It would be an unprecedented second state visit for Trump, which the British government hopes will strengthen ties between the two countries.

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivered an invitation from King Charles to Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office in February. The meeting focused on tariffs and the situation in Ukraine.

Keep ReadingShow less