Liz Truss set to become next UK prime minister Transcript

Speaker 1: (00:00) As we've reported, Liz Truss will take over the helm tomorrow as the United kingdom's new Prime Minister after she won the support of her Conservative Party. As Laura Barron-Lopez reports, the shift in leadership comes as the country is bracing for an acute economic and cost of living crisis. Speaker 2: (00:18) I give notice that Liz Truss is elected as the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. Laura Barron-Lopez: (00:24) Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss has won the battle for Britain's Prime Minister seat beating former Treasury Chief Rishi Sunak in a two month leadership contest following the forced exit of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Liz Truss: (00:35) We've got two years until a likely next general election and I want to deliver for people. I want to deliver lower taxes. I want to help struggling families. Laura Barron-Lopez: (00:45) Truss secured more than 81,000 votes in an election that only allowed about 170,000 dues paying members of the Conservative Party to participate. A front runner for weeks, she was expected to win by a greater margin. She has worked for three former prime ministers as the Environment Secretary under David Cameron, as Justice Secretary under Theresa May, and she was appointed Foreign Secretary of under Johnson. Truss will become the UK's third female Prime Minister following in the footsteps of her political idol, Margaret Thatcher. Laura Barron-Lopez: (01:15) Compared to Thatcher for her desire to cut back state intervention and reduced taxes, Truss will take office as Britain's fourth consecutive conservative Prime Minister in six years at a crucial time for the nation. Truss inherits a challenging economic crisis, which she addressed in her victory speech. Liz Truss: (01:32) I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy. 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. Laura Barron-Lopez: (01:48) Britain faces record high prices in energy, food, and fuel as the war in Ukraine continues. Liz Truss: (01:54) And we have to be ready for the long haul in supporting Ukraine because we are committed to protecting freedom and democracy. Laura Barron-Lopez: (02:02) The new Prime Minister also takes on the fallout of Brexit, which she originally opposed and later supported drawing vast criticism for switching sides. Speaker 5: (02:11) Chief Secretary, do you still that Prime Minister's plan? Liz Truss: (02:15) Yes. Speaker 5: (02:18) What about a new referendum? Liz Truss: (02:22) No. Laura Barron-Lopez: (02:22) Britain's next general election is slated for December 2024 and Truss is confident that her Tory Party will deliver a victory. Liz Truss: (02:29) Because my friends, I know that we will deliver, we will deliver, we will deliver. Laura Barron-Lopez: (02:36) Truss will begin her term as Prime Minister tomorrow, once Johnson formally resigns his post to Queen Elizabeth. For the PBS News Hour, I'm Laura Barron-Lopez.