Liz Truss appointed British prime minister and will form new government after meeting the Queen

London: Liz Truss has been appointed British prime minister and will now form a new government following an audience with the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Truss, who is the fourth Conservative prime minister in six years, flew to the Queen’s Scottish home to be asked by the 96-year-old monarch to form a government.

Queen Elizabeth greets newly elected leader of the Conservative party Liz Truss as she arrives at Balmoral Castle on Tuesday.Credit: Getty Images

She replaces Boris Johnson, who was forced to quit after three tumultuous years in power.

“The Queen received in audience the Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new administration,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as prime minister and first Lord of the Treasury.”

It is the first image of the Queen seen in weeks. She was unable to return to London because of her ongoing mobility issues.

Earlier, Johnson left Downing Street with a final swipe at Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Conservative Party colleagues and a staunch defence of his record in government.

In a characteristically upbeat and short final address, Johnson declared that his successor would see the country through the energy crisis, prevail over Putin and win the next election for the Conservatives. He pledged his “fervent support” for Ms Truss’ new government and urged the Conservative Party to unite behind her.

Johnson’s rocky stint included the biggest election victory in a generation in December 2019, a stay in intensive care after contracting COVID-19 at the peak of the pandemic, a war in Europe and a series of scandals that exposed his integrity and honesty that forced more than 50 of his ministry to resign citing a lack of confidence in his leadership.

Speaking in front of the famous black door of No.10, he said: “I know that Liz Truss and this compassionate Conservative government will do everything we can to get people through this crisis and this country will endure it, and we will win and if Putin thinks that he can succeed by blackmailing or bullying the British people then he is utterly deluded.”

Boris Johnson was surrounded by staff and family as he gave his farewell address. Credit: Getty

Wearing a grey suit and blue tie, Johnson was applauded by the large groups of Tory MPs and officials as he approached the podium. He compared himself to a “booster rocket” jetting off into distant lands, before leaving to the applause of his loyal staff to fly to Scotland and formally tender his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.

“This is it folks … the baton will be handed over in what has unexpectedly turned out to be a relay race. They changed the rules halfway through, but never mind that now.

“I’m now like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function. I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some corner of the Pacific.”

He added: “Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plough.”

Cincinnatus, a Roman leader, returned to his farm after retiring but was called upon to lead again.

Truss, who emerged victorious after a six-week campaign for the leadership against former chancellor Rishi Sunak on Monday evening, faces a whirlwind of duties that confront new prime ministers, including writing letters of last resort for the commanders of nuclear submarines and receiving sensitive briefings from security officials.

She is likely to receive congratulatory calls from world leaders, most likely including European counterparts and US President Joe Biden.

Credit: Matt Golding

Among her first priorities will be to freeze energy bills until 2024, when the next general election is expected, with a multibillion-dollar package, followed within weeks by a formal announcement of tax cuts and a plan to clear the hospital backlog.

Johnson, who has visited Kyiv three times in the past five months and struck a close friendship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said his fierce commitment to Ukraine had arguably changed the course of the war in Europe.

He also praised his COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the civil servants who delivered Brexit.

Downing Street, which is fenced off from the public and guarded by security, was crammed with MPs and ministers who supported Johnson’s reign until the end.

They were joined by No.10 staff, most of whom are slated to lose their jobs, and members of Johnson’s family, including his sister Rachel Johnson and his wife Carrie, although not their children.

Boris Johnson and wife Carrie depart 10 Downing Street. Credit: Getty

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the arch-Brexiteer, also expected to stay in cabinet under Truss, was among the group with his eldest son Peter who attended Johnson’s farewell.

Two Johnson loyalists, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, have already quit the cabinet ahead of Truss’ official takeover of the job.

While Patel, who has failed to get a grip on the record number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats from France to England, was destined for the sack, Dorries was reported to have been offered to continue as culture secretary under Truss.

In his trademark humour, Johnson signed off with a pointed message to his colleagues by using his Downing Street pets – Larry the cat and Dilyn the Jack Russell cross – as the prime example.

“I just say to my party, if Dilyn and Larry can put behind them their occasional difficulties then so can the Conservative Party,” he said.

“Together we have laid foundations that will stand the test of time ... great, solid masonry on which we will continue to build together, paving the path of prosperity now and for future generations and I will be supporting Liz Truss and the new government every step of the way.”

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