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Liz Truss named as Britain’s prime minister, promises tax cut, improved economy
Liz Truss was named as Britain’s next prime minister on Monday, winning a leadership race for the governing Conservative party at a time when the country faces a cost of living crisis, industrial unrest and a recession.
According to Reuters, this came after weeks of an often bad-tempered and divisive leadership contest that saw the foreign minister face off against former finance minister Rishi Sunak, Truss came out on top in a vote of Conservative Party members, winning by 81,326 votes to 60,399.
“We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy,” Truss said after the result was announced.
She added, “I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people’s energy bills, but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply.”
The announcement triggers the start of a handover from Boris Johnson, who was forced to announce his resignation in July after months of scandal saw support for his administration drain away.
A BBC report also says the new Prime Minister Truss used her acceptance speech to pledge to “deliver on the energy crisis” by dealing with bills as well as supply issues.
A freeze on energy bills is understood to be one of a number of options being worked up in Whitehall to help struggling households to cope with the soaring cost of gas and electricity.
Energy industry sources expect the government to back freezing bills.
Ms Truss’s team is understood to have been working on a support package for energy bills “for weeks” and an announcement on what they will do is pencilled in for this Thursday.
“Lots of measures have been considered, some have progressed and some have not” a source said. Her team do not deny they might introduce a freeze on energy bills.
There have been multiple meetings between the energy industry and government, including ministers close to Ms Truss, who is seen as the front runner to replace Boris Johnson.
Nadhim Zahawi, the current chancellor who is expected to stay on in another role should Ms Truss win the leadership race, is understood to have been involved in conversations with industry leaders about the plan on a recent trip to the US.
A freeze of the energy price cap – the limit on how much gas and electricity can cost in England, Scotland and Wales – would not necessarily require upfront government funding at the beginning.
In an article for the Financial Times, Ms Truss’ close ally, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said a government led by her will borrow more to help people this winter through “exceptionally difficult times” during the energy price shock.
Kwarteng – tipped to be named chancellor by Miss Truss – suggested he would look at the UK’s rules on government borrowing and spending – called fiscal rules – to see if they still work for the economy.
The Treasury is allowed to suspend its fiscal rules in the event of a “significant negative shock to the UK economy”.
However, Kwarteng sought to reassure markets that the UK had space to borrow more and that it would be done in a “fiscally responsible way”.
During an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Truss said it was fair to give higher earners more money back through tax cuts.
She said recent Tory policy had failed to grow the economy and has previously pledged to reverse a National Insurance rise.
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
News
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night will hold a nationwide broadcast to address the crisis in Rivers state.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the broadcast will be transmitted by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The broadcast is expected to be held by 7pm today.
Video: President Tinubu has declared state on emergency on Rivers state effective immediately, suspends Governor Fubara, his deputy governor and house of assembly members for six months.
He also nominated an administrator pic.twitter.com/jD1g9FHOez— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) March 18, 2025
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