Anthony Albanese, world leaders react to Liz Truss’ resignation as British PM

Anthony Albanese has revealed he is “concerned” about what Liz Truss’ resignation means for an important Aus-UK deal, as he took a subtle dig at the nation.

Liz Truss has resigned as British prime minister. Picture: AFP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday voiced fears that Britain’s political convulsions and the exit of his counterpart Liz Truss could derail a pending trade deal between the two countries.

“I am concerned about any delay that would occur to the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement,” Mr Albanese said.

The agreement was finalised in December 2021 to much fanfare, but has yet to be ratified by either country.

Albanese said he had asked Truss – who now has days left in office before her Conservative party selects a new leader – to fast-track the ratification process.

“We had discussed trying to get it concluded this year to make sure the appropriate parliamentary processes went through,” the centre-left Australian leader said.

“I will of course speak to whoever it is that will become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom about doing that.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has weighed in on Liz truss’ resignation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

He added a subtle dig at his counterparts in London, which ruled Australia for over a century until 1901.

“I must say, I’ve been in office about five months, I’ve met with two British prime ministers so far, and obviously will have contact with the third.”

Australia is no stranger to political tumult, having seen seven changes of prime minister in 15 years, but rules put in place by both leading parties have stemmed the habit of members ousting their own leaders.

“Here in Australia my government is stable, is orderly, the adults are in charge,” Albanese said.

The UK-Australia accord was the first free trade deal to be signed since Britain’s formal departure from the European Union at the start of 2021.

Britain claimed the deal would unlock annual bilateral trade worth £10.4 billion (US$12.4 billion).

But a cross-party UK parliamentary trade committee warned then-prime minister Boris Johnson against “overselling the benefits”.

The British economy has struggled with fraying ties with its largest trading partners inside the EU.

‘A DISGRACE OF A PM’: WORLD LEADERS REACT TO TRUSS’ EXIT

World leaders have responded to Liz Truss’s dramatic exit as British PM just weeks into her time in office, with Russia claiming the UK has “never known such a disgrace as prime minister”.

Russia’s foreign ministry welcomed the departure of Ms Truss, saying she was a disgrace of a leader who would be remembered for her “catastrophic illiteracy”.

“The catastrophic ignorance and the Queen’s funeral immediately after her audience with Liz Truss will be remembered,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram.

Liz Truss will be exiting No 10. Picture: Getty Images

“Britain has never known such a disgrace as prime minister.”

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev really stuck the boots in, writing in English on Twitter: “Bye, bye @trussliz, congrats to lettuce”, referring to the British Daily Star tabloid’s days-long livestream asking whether Ms Truss’ troubled premiership would outlast the shelf-life of a lettuce.

Ms Truss’ resignation attracted extensive and gleeful coverage on Russian state television. A guest on the flagship political talk show, Time Will Tell, said Ms Truss had possessed the three traits needed to thrive in British politics: “Stupidity, arrogance, and belligerence”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin foreign ministry spokeswoman called Liz Truss a “disgrace”. Picture: AFP

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has vowed to continue close co-operation with Britain following the resignation of Ms Truss, whose six-week premiership was marred by political and economic chaos.

“I thank Prime Minister Liz Truss for her partnership on a range of issues including holding Russia accountable for its war against Ukraine,” Mr Biden said in a statement.

“We will continue our close co-operation with the UK government as we work together to meet the global challenges our nations face.”

It comes as France’s President Emmanuel Macron wished Britain a rapid return to stability after Ms Truss’ resignation.

US President Joe Biden vowed to continue close co-operation with Britain in the wake of Liz Truss’ resignation. Picture: AFP

Arriving at an EU summit, Mr Macron said he would not comment on British domestic politics but added: “It is important that Great Britain regains political stability very quickly, and that is all I wish.”

Relations between Paris and London have often been sour as Britain negotiated its divorce from the European Union, and threatened to get worse as Ms Truss courted the hard line pro-Brexit wing of her party.

During her campaign to be elected leader of the Conservative Party, and thus prime minister, Ms Truss famously said that “the jury is out” on whether the French leader was a friend or foe of Britain.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it was important that Britain “regains political stability very quickly”. Picture: AFP

But there were also signs of a potential rapprochement on strategic issues, with Ms Truss agreeing to attend the first summit in Prague of the Macron-inspired European Political Community.

News of Ms Truss’s resignation broke as Mr Macron was arriving at the EU summit in Brussels, and he was asked about it by reporters.

Macron said that he had had several telephone calls with Ms Truss during her brief time in office and had been glad to see her in Prague.

“I want to say that France, as a nation and people who are friends of the British people, wishes them above all stability,” he said, stressing the context of the war in Ukraine and energy price crisis.

It’s all over for Liz Truss. Picture: AFP

“But personally, I’m always sad to see a colleague leave in this way and what I want to say is that I wish stability can return soon.”

Ireland’s prime minister Micheal Martin said: “On a personal level, I sympathise with her, I think it’s been a very difficult time for the British prime minister,” Politico reported.

“Stability is very important, and we would like to see the U.K. system, within its capacity, to be in a position to have a successor selected as quickly as possible,” he added, just after Ms Truss’ announcement.

Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, said that he agreed with Ms Truss “on a number of issues.”

“But I look forward to who my new colleague will be, I think it will be number five,” he added.

– with AFP

Originally published as Anthony Albanese, world leaders react to Liz Truss’ resignation as British PM