Liz Truss is expected to be announced as the new prime minister today after a grueling six-week leadership campaign. Both the Foreign Secretary and Rishi Sunak have spent the past few weeks criss-crossing the country taking part in protests in a bid to win over the 200,000 party members tasked with choosing the next Tory leader. Voting closed on Friday and the competition will end when the official announcement is made by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Commission, at lunchtime. Ahead of the results, several reports suggested Ms Truss was strongly considering freezing energy bills to help households cope with the cost of living crisis. The Times reports that the package could be on the scale of the leave regime introduced by then chancellor Mr Sunak. The new leader is expected to make a speech after the leadership announcement, before they spend the rest of the day finalizing their choices for ministerial and wider ministerial roles and writing their first prime ministerial speech. Mr Johnson and his successor will travel to Balmoral for the appointment of the new prime minister on Tuesday.
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Tras to consider ‘freezing energy bills due to financial squeeze’
Liz Truss is strongly considering freezing energy bills in a bid to ease the financial burden on households this winter. Seeking to win the Conservative leadership race, the foreign secretary remained tight-lipped until Sunday about what kind of support package she might introduce as residents face the prospect of rising energy bills. Reports in the Daily Telegraph and The Times suggest Ms Truss is likely to introduce a freeze on energy bills in some form. The package could involve the sale of the leave regime introduced by then-chancellor Rishi Sunak when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the Times reported. However, the specifics of such a policy are still being debated, according to the Telegraph. Foreign Secretary and Conservative leadership hopeful Liz Truss arrives to speak during the Tory leadership finals at Wembley Arena on August 31, 2022 in London, England (Getty Images) Ms Truss had used a BBC interview on Sunday to insist she would unveil new support for struggling households within a week, but repeatedly refused to specify what those support measures might look like. Before you are elected prime minister, you don’t have all the means to get things done. That’s why it will take a week to sort out the exact plans and make sure we’re able to announce them. That’s why I can’t go into details at this stage. It would be wrong. Liz Truss Namita Singh5 September 2022 04:47 1662343020
Boris Johnson: Twenty one of the outgoing prime minister’s biggest blunders from letterbox burqas to hiding in the fridge
Boris Johnson is finally stepping down as Prime Minister after nearly three tumultuous years in office. The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip is banished to the backbenches, at least for now, after both candidates to replace him – Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – ruled out giving him a cabinet seat. But Johnson himself, never one to shy away from the public eye, recently refused to rule out some form of political “comeback”. And there has already been some speculation that he could have another “Trump-style” tilt at the Tory leadership in the future. Like Donald Trump, his political career to date is littered with blunders – some more disastrous than others. From insulting entire cities, countries and cultures, the Athenian disciple has offended many during his time in the limelight. Here the Independent looks back at some of Mr Johnson’s most damaging and humiliating blunders.
Burqas, Kippers and Peppa Pig: Twenty one of Boris Johnson’s biggest blunders
Taking a look back at some infamous moments from the ‘fat pig’s’ storied career Joe Middleton5 September 2022 02:57 1662339480
Where does Boris Johnson rank in the pantheon of modern British prime ministers?
He is clearly not in the first category of Churchill or Thatcher, and his personal flaws and precipitation from power mean that he has been relegated below Blair and Wilson to the second category. But Brexit and his electoral success put him ahead of May and Cameron, writes Sean O’Grady.
Where does Boris Johnson rank in the pantheon of modern British prime ministers?
He is clearly not in the first category of Churchill or Thatcher, and his personal flaws and precipitation from power mean that he has been relegated below Blair and Wilson to the second category. But Brexit and his election success put him ahead of May and Cameron, writes Sean O’Grady Joe Middleton5 September 2022 01:58 1662335880
Sadiq Khan calls for Covid-style emergency support to ease energy bill pain
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged his successor Boris Johnson to immediately introduce a Covid-style support package to help families facing poverty due to rising energy bills. The Labor mayor said the next prime minister – whether Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak wins the Tory leadership contest on Monday – must understand the scale of intervention needed in the cost of living crisis. “With the rising cost of living already hitting people on lower incomes hardest, it is essential that the government takes urgent action to help them cope,” Mr Khan told the Independent.
Sadiq Khan calls for Covid-style support package to ease energy bill pain
Exclusive: ‘Pandemic-style’ package needed from next PM, London mayor says – as new research shows positive impact of Covid crisis intervention Joe Middleton5 September 2022 00:58 1662332375
Truss promises action on energy bill “within a week” if he becomes prime minister
Truss promises action on energy bill “within a week” if he becomes prime minister Joe Middleton 4 September 2022 23:59 1662328835
Refugee minister resigns from government and declares job ‘essentially done’
Lord Harrington, who was appointed refugee minister in the wake of the war in Ukraine, resigned from the government before a new leader took over. In government since March, Lord Harrington stressed that his resignation was no reflection on either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, and instead believed the time was right to leave a “temporary” post. Boris Johnson was among those to pay tribute to his efforts, with the outgoing prime minister saying the government would miss his “wealth of experience”.
Refugee minister resigns from government and declares job ‘essentially done’
Lord Harrington says the process is already in place “which means you won’t necessarily need a minister like me” Joe Middleton September 4, 2022 11:00 p.m 1662325235
Liz Truss warns she will make unpopular decisions as PM and defends tax cuts for the rich
Liz Truss has warned she will make unpopular decisions as prime minister and has defended tax cuts that benefit the rich as “fair”, despite growing calls to ditch them. She pledged immediate action to boost household bills if, as expected, she wins the keys to No 10 on Monday, promising a plan within her first week. But despite the gathering clouds and warnings that her response to the crisis could run into tens of billions of pounds, she said: “Britain has been through worse, frankly.”
Truss warns she will make unpopular decisions as PM and defends tax cuts for the rich
On cost of living crisis, potential new PM says ‘Britain has been through worse’ Joe Middleton September 4, 2022 10:00 p.m 1662321635
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky praises Boris Johnson as ‘true friend’ leaves office
Volodymyr Zelensky has heaped praise on his “true friend” and ally Boris Johnson as the prime minister enters his final days in office. In a sign of the Ukrainian president’s regard for Mr Johnson, Mr Zelensky wrote a piece in the Mail on Sunday and spoke to the Sunday Times about his gratitude to the outgoing British prime minister. In both, Mr Zelensky hoped for future “close relations” with Mr Johnson’s successor, who could be in line for an invitation to visit Kyiv.
Zelensky heaps praise on Boris Johnson as ‘true friend’ leaves office
The Ukrainian president says he was “worried” when he learned there would be a new administration Joe Middleton4 September 2022 21:00 1662319835
Where does Boris Johnson rank in the pantheon of modern British prime ministers?
He is clearly not in the first category of Churchill or Thatcher, and his personal flaws and precipitous fall from power mean that he has been relegated below Blair and Wilson to the second category. But Brexit and his electoral success put him ahead of May and Cameron, writes Sean O’Grady.
Where does Boris Johnson rank in the pantheon of modern British prime ministers?
He is clearly not in the first category of Churchill or Thatcher, and his personal flaws and precipitous fall from power mean that he has been relegated below Blair and Wilson to the second category. But Brexit and his election success put him ahead of May and Cameron, writes Sean O’Grady Joe Middleton4 September 2022 20:30 1662318035
Tax cuts that could give high earners almost £2,000 are ‘fair’, Truss says
Liz Truss has described as “fair” tax cuts that could save high earners almost £2,000 as a former Tory chancellor warned they would fuel already soaring inflation. Lord Hammond said the cuts were “simply not the answer” and “not the right thing to do”. Many Tory MPs also privately admit they fear Ms Truss’ plans will worsen inflation at a time when experts are already predicting it could reach as high as 22%. Kate Devlin has the details.
Tax cuts that could give high earners almost £2,000 are ‘fair’, Truss says
Former Tory chancellor warns they will drive up inflation Joe Middleton 4 September 2022 20:00
