<p>Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one. The late Thatcher, for one, the daughter of a grocer, demonstrated in word and deed, that the UK was a land of opportunity- a theme that has, over time diminished for many in the country. Second, the context- that of political economy- is different. Thatcher’s incubus was the economic philosophy of ‘neo-liberalism’ wherein the late leader, among other things, aimed (successfully) to trim the state. But Thatcher’s era was also one where the UK was undergoing profound structural change(s) that did not seem apparent then.</p>

<p>One of these was immigration and immigrant flows into the country, the nature and form of which have changed the complexion of the country. One ‘after effect’ of this development is actually that a brown skinned Indian origin person (Rishi Sunak) could not only think of becoming PM of the UK but also pose a challenge to what was once a ‘white establishment’ governed country. But this fact obscures both a latent and overt trend - one that formed the foundational premise of Brexit- that of a country that is deeply polarized and somewhat at odds with itself. (This includes the yawning gap between Scottish nationalism and the Unionists plus the diminishing returns of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland)</p>

<p>This is the broad context and set of conditions that Ms Truss will inherit. Overlaid by inflation of the nature of decadal highs that has made cost of living exorbitant for ‘ordinary’ Britons, the challenges could not be more fraught and complex for the new prime minister.</p>

<p>Can, the question is, Ms. Truss govern?</p>

<p>Of course, she can. Governing, in the pedestrian sense, is easy. But the UK needs more than governance. Shorn of accretions and rhetoric, Ms Truss needs to, or has to reclaim the country for Britons, in the broadest possible sense. (The term Britons is employed here to include all that form the country’s firmament). How can this be rendered possible? Ms Truss, for starters has to tread a delicate line: she has to foster a sense of belongingness in the country while at the same time disavowing narrow, exclusive nationalism. This is not easy but is doable -something that can be done by broadening the idea and concept of belongingness, fostering non exclusionary pride in the nation. But it would mean broadening the party tent, a possibility that would call for bold and beautiful leadership.</p>

<p>While it is an iffy proposition given the nature of the Conservative Party, other challenges would call for equally bold leadership. One of these is the UK’s standing in the world. It would appear that post-colonial Britain is an addled country. Its ‘island mentality’ has not gone away. Notwithstanding its past(right or wrong), the country is actually inward looking. In prosaic terms, it is neither here nor there. Its foreign and defense policy is latched to that of the United States under the rubric of the ‘special relationship’. The author does not suggest that the UK disavow the special relationship but it may be prudent for the country to have some ‘strategic autonomy’ under the broad umbrella of the relationship. Next, even though it is a ‘bridge too far’ but the UK must repair and calibrate its relationship with the European Union. The why of it is obvious but not so the how of it. This is another area where Ms Truss must demonstrate leadership.</p>

<p>At this point in time, the UK does not have soft power. (Obiter Dictum, Tony Blair’s ‘Cool Britannica’ branding was not only a vulgar and lame rendition of soft power but as shallow as Blair himself). The country needs to think deep and introspect about itself and its position within and without. The world has moved on and so must the UK. In terms of hard power, the UK is not a laggard but surely, its defense and security posture need a rethink and maybe even an overhaul. Here Ms Truss has experience but typically bureaucracies -be these the civil services or the defense establishments all over the world- are defined by inertia. Innovation even of the staid variety is resisted. Again, deft leadership is called for here.</p>

<p>All in all, the distilled essence of this essay is that the UK adrift as it is stands at a cross roads. The country needs able, bold and beautiful leadership; not mere governance or mere economic antidotes. Its challenges are too profound and fraught to be reduced to these. Ms Truss has not ably only won the race for prime minister-ship in the UK but demonstrated verve and staying power. This is just the beginning. A country awaiting reclamation becomes. Ms Truss for the sake of her country must rise to the occasion and redeem the United Kingdom.</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us<strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one.

Liz Truss will become the prime minister of the United Kingdom. While it would be tempting to draw implied parallels with the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, but the country that Ms Truss will lead is a vastly different one. The late Thatcher, for one, the daughter of a grocer, demonstrated in word and deed, that the UK was a land of opportunity- a theme that has, over time diminished for many in the country. Second, the context- that of political economy- is different. Thatcher’s incubus was the economic philosophy of ‘neo-liberalism’ wherein the late leader, among other things, aimed (successfully) to trim the state. But Thatcher’s era was also one where the UK was undergoing profound structural change(s) that did not seem apparent then. One of these was immigration and immigrant flows into the country, the nature and form of which have changed the complexion of the country. One ‘after effect’ of this development is actually that a brown skinned Indian origin person (Rishi Sunak) could not only think of becoming PM of the UK but also pose a challenge to what was once a ‘white establishment’ governed country. But this fact obscures both a latent and overt trend - one that formed the foundational premise of Brexit- that of a country that is deeply polarized and somewhat at odds with itself. (This includes the yawning gap between Scottish nationalism and the Unionists plus the diminishing returns of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland) This is the broad context and set of conditions that Ms Truss will inherit. Overlaid by inflation of the nature of decadal highs that has made cost of living exorbitant for ‘ordinary’ Britons, the challenges could not be more fraught and complex for the new prime minister. Can, the question is, Ms. Truss govern? Of course, she can. Governing, in the pedestrian sense, is easy. But the UK needs more than governance. Shorn of accretions and rhetoric, Ms Truss needs to, or has to reclaim the country for Britons, in the broadest possible sense. (The term Britons is employed here to include all that form the country’s firmament). How can this be rendered possible? Ms Truss, for starters has to tread a delicate line: she has to foster a sense of belongingness in the country while at the same time disavowing narrow, exclusive nationalism. This is not easy but is doable -something that can be done by broadening the idea and concept of belongingness, fostering non exclusionary pride in the nation. But it would mean broadening the party tent, a possibility that would call for bold and beautiful leadership. While it is an iffy proposition given the nature of the Conservative Party, other challenges would call for equally bold leadership. One of these is the UK’s standing in the world. It would appear that post-colonial Britain is an addled country. Its ‘island mentality’ has not gone away. Notwithstanding its past(right or wrong), the country is actually inward looking. In prosaic terms, it is neither here nor there. Its foreign and defense policy is latched to that of the United States under the rubric of the ‘special relationship’. The author does not suggest that the UK disavow the special relationship but it may be prudent for the country to have some ‘strategic autonomy’ under the broad umbrella of the relationship. Next, even though it is a ‘bridge too far’ but the UK must repair and calibrate its relationship with the European Union. The why of it is obvious but not so the how of it. This is another area where Ms Truss must demonstrate leadership. At this point in time, the UK does not have soft power. (Obiter Dictum, Tony Blair’s ‘Cool Britannica’ branding was not only a vulgar and lame rendition of soft power but as shallow as Blair himself). The country needs to think deep and introspect about itself and its position within and without. The world has moved on and so must the UK. In terms of hard power, the UK is not a laggard but surely, its defense and security posture need a rethink and maybe even an overhaul. Here Ms Truss has experience but typically bureaucracies -be these the civil services or the defense establishments all over the world- are defined by inertia. Innovation even of the staid variety is resisted. Again, deft leadership is called for here. All in all, the distilled essence of this essay is that the UK adrift as it is stands at a cross roads. The country needs able, bold and beautiful leadership; not mere governance or mere economic antidotes. Its challenges are too profound and fraught to be reduced to these. Ms Truss has not ably only won the race for prime minister-ship in the UK but demonstrated verve and staying power. This is just the beginning. A country awaiting reclamation becomes. Ms Truss for the sake of her country must rise to the occasion and redeem the United Kingdom. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Can Prime Minister Liz Truss Lead?

<p>Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves. Truss (47) has become the third female prime minister of the UK after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.</p>

<p>Initially trailing Sunak, Truss surged ahead as rounds of voting took place. She then consistently led 42-year-old Sunak in polling among estimated 200,000 Tory members eligible to vote. The leadership contest began in July when departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned following a string of scandals.</p>

<p>Truss got 81,326 votes while Sunak got&nbsp;60,399 votes.</p>

<p>After her victory, Truss took to Twitter to celebrate.</p>

<p>"I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential," she tweeted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party.<br />
<br />
Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country.<br />
<br />
I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential. <a href="https://t.co/xCGGTJzjqb">pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb</a></p>
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) <a href="https://twitter.com/trussliz/status/1566752887857991680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Previously, Truss told the Daily Mail that as prime minister she would "do everything in my power to make sure everyone, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work takes them".</p>

<p>In spite of her brave face, Truss faces a tough task of winning over the general public of the country.</p>

<p>A YouGov poll in late August found 52 per cent people thought Truss would make a "poor" or "terrible" prime minister.</p>

<p>Forty-three per cent said they did not trust her "at all" to deal with the burning issue of the rise in the cost of living.</p>

<p>Truss is entering the office just when energy prices in UK have gone up. There is a palpable anger among the public. She takes office when Europe is affected by the war in Ukraine. Russia has been leveraging its position as Europe's major gas provider to exert political pressure. Energy shortage in Europe may cause greater problems as winter months approach.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

<p><strong><em>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</em></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves.

Mary Elizabeth Truss, or Liz Truss as she is popularly called, is all set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She has trumped Rishi Sunak in the race that saw Britain's Conservative Party member elect a new leader from among themselves. Truss (47) has become the third female prime minister of the UK after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Initially trailing Sunak, Truss surged ahead as rounds of voting took place. She then consistently led 42-year-old Sunak in polling among estimated 200,000 Tory members eligible to vote. The leadership contest began in July when departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned following a string of scandals. Truss got 81,326 votes while Sunak got 60,399 votes. After her victory, Truss took to Twitter to celebrate. "I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential," she tweeted. I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential. pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb — Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 5, 2022 × Previously, Truss told the Daily Mail that as prime minister she would "do everything in my power to make sure everyone, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to go as far as their talent and hard work takes them". In spite of her brave face, Truss faces a tough task of winning over the general public of the country. A YouGov poll in late August found 52 per cent people thought Truss would make a "poor" or "terrible" prime minister. Forty-three per cent said they did not trust her "at all" to deal with the burning issue of the rise in the cost of living. Truss is entering the office just when energy prices in UK have gone up. There is a palpable anger among the public. She takes office when Europe is affected by the war in Ukraine. Russia has been leveraging its position as Europe's major gas provider to exert political pressure. Energy shortage in Europe may cause greater problems as winter months approach. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Liz Truss elected new UK Prime Minister, beats Rishi Sunak in leadership race

<p>Amid the shadow of the Russian invasion of&nbsp;Ukraine, UK foreign secretary Elizabeth Truss will visit India later this month. She is the first European foreign minister to visit India since the Russian invasion, an agenda that will dominate the talks when she meets external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The invasion that started on February 24 has been a major geopolitical earthquake for Europe and the world and has led to the worst refugee crisis for the continent since World War- II.</p>

<p>The Indian, UK foreign ministers had spoken on the crisis in Ukraine recently. In a tweet on February 24, EAM had said, "A telephonic discussion with UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Exchanged perspectives on the Ukrainian situation."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A telephonic discussion with UK Foreign Secretary <a href="https://twitter.com/trussliz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trussliz</a>.<br />
<br />
Exchanged perspectives on the Ukrainian situation.</p>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1496825405797711877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Amid the Russian invasion, India's external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar has been engaged with foreign ministers of Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and&nbsp;Moldova for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine.</p>

<p>India, under "Operation Ganga" has been able to bring back 22,500 nationals home from the war-torn country.</p>

<p>The UK foreign secretary last visited India in October of 2021&nbsp;during which she visited Mumbai. Both sides are engaged in free trade agreement talks as well.</p>


Amid the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, UK foreign secretary Elizabeth Truss will visit India later this month. She is the first European foreign minister to visit India since the Russian invasion, an agenda that will dominate the talks when she meets external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar.

Amid the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, UK foreign secretary Elizabeth Truss will visit India later this month. She is the first European foreign minister to visit India since the Russian invasion, an agenda that will dominate the talks when she meets external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar. The invasion that started on February 24 has been a major geopolitical earthquake for Europe and the world and has led to the worst refugee crisis for the continent since World War- II. The Indian, UK foreign ministers had spoken on the crisis in Ukraine recently. In a tweet on February 24, EAM had said, "A telephonic discussion with UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Exchanged perspectives on the Ukrainian situation." A telephonic discussion with UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Exchanged perspectives on the Ukrainian situation. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 24, 2022 × Amid the Russian invasion, India's external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar has been engaged with foreign ministers of Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine. India, under "Operation Ganga" has been able to bring back 22,500 nationals home from the war-torn country. The UK foreign secretary last visited India in October of 2021 during which she visited Mumbai. Both sides are engaged in free trade agreement talks as well.

UK foreign secretary to visit India amid Ukraine war

elizabeth-truss

Elizabeth Truss, News on Elizabeth Truss, stories on Elizabeth Truss, articles on Elizabeth Truss, Elizabeth Truss stories at Wion, Elizabeth Truss news, Elizabeth Truss latest news

elizabeth truss

Can Prime Minister Liz Truss Lead?

Liz Truss elected new UK Prime Minister, beats Rishi Sunak in leadership race

UK foreign secretary to visit India amid Ukraine war