UK's former 49-day prime minister Liz Truss loses her Norfolk seat to Labour

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who led the country for a tumultuous 49 days in 2022, on Friday (July 5) lost her parliamentary seat in the 2024 British general election. Truss lost her Norfolk South West constituency in eastern England to Labour by a margin of 630 votes, even as the Conservatives faced a resounding defeat.

A series of defeats

As per AFP,two years ago, Truss'unfunded tax cuts spooked markets and crashed the pound,effectively sealing the Tories' fate in thesecrucial elections.

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Truss, who became the country's shortest-serving leader ever, as per the report, had been facing a campaign to oust her by grassroots activists — dubbed "the Turnip Taliban" — in her rural constituency.

In spite of securing 11,217 votes in her South West Norfolk constituency in eastern England, Trusslost her parliamentary seat in the general election. She lagged behind11,847 votes won by Labour candidate Terry Jermy.

While her colleagues Jeremy Hunt, the outgoing finance minister, and Kemi Badenoch, the outgoing trade minister, managed to retain their seats,Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former minister nicknamed "the honourable gentleman from the 18th century" because of his grand airs and trademark double-breasted suit, also lost.

What Truss said after the defeat

Liz Truss's defeat was announced shortly before 7:00 am (0600 GMT). Truss, as per reports, left the stage without making a statement.

However, later talking to the BBC, she said: "I think the issue we faced as Conservatives is we haven't delivered sufficiently on the policies people want."

When asked if she bore some responsibility for the conservatives' defeat, she said: "I agree. I was part of that. That's absolutely true."Responding to a question about whether she wanted to continuein politics, shesaid she had "a lot to think about".

(With inputs from agencies)