The Day Of The Two Prime Ministers

Find out more about the events of this historic day.

Liz Truss was elected as the leader of the Conservative Party on Monday 5 September 2022. This came after Boris Johnson, on Thursday 7 July 2022, vowed to step down as Prime Minister after a new leader for the Tories had been elected. On Tuesday 6 September 2022, there was a rare moment, of approximately an hour, where the United Kingdom did not have a Prime Minister. It was the period in between the resignation of Boris Johnson and the ‘kissing of the hands’ (appointment) of Liz Truss by Queen Elizabeth II. A 1000 mile round trip was made to Balmoral Castle for this, which is the first time since 1885 (with Lord Salisabury and Queen Victoria) - due to the current Queen’s mobility issues. Such changing of the guard would have usually taken place at Buckingham Palace.

‘Kissing of the hands’ - the tradition where the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom appoints the leader of the ruling party as Prime Minister. Pictured: The Queen and Liz Truss (Credit: ndtv.com)

Liz Truss’ Inaugural Speech

Pictured: Liz Truss giving her inaugural speech as PM (Credit: Instagram)

After a sudden downpour of storm-like rain, where for a few minutes the podium was removed from outside 10 Downing Street and politicians retreated inside, just after 5pm Liz Truss delivered her first speech as the United Kingdom’s new PM. She first began thanking and recognising Boris Johnson’s efforts as the United Kingdom’s premier, in COVID, employment and foreign affairs. With meteorological semantics, Liz stated that the nation can ‘ride out the storm’. This was after the new PM acknowledged the difficult situation that the country is in as she mentioned in her speech moments earlier that’ as strong as the storm may be I know that the British people are stronger’. Issues with the economy, energy and healthcare were the trinity of issues that she pledged to carry out bold action plans for.

‘An aspiration nation’

‘An aspiration nation’ is Liz Truss’ vision for the United Kingdom as the new Prime Minister.  ‘Working, building and growing’ is the method Liz will use to achieve that vision. Security abroad is going to be made as much a priority as security at home. Moreover, cutting taxes and helping businesses is also on the agenda, so that individuals are rewarded for their work. Therefore, from the new PM’s inaugural speech it can be expected that her first calls of action will be directed towards:

1. The workforce (‘Get Britain working again’)

2. Energy (‘Hands on with the energy crisis’)

3. The NHS (‘Put our health service on a firm footing’)

After her speech Liz Truss then entered into 10 Downing Street, the house of government, to begin working on delivering her promises, something which was emphasised within the speech.

Boris Johnson’s Final Speech

Pictured: Cincinnatus (left) and Boris Johnson giving his final speech as PM (Credit: Instagram)

Earlier at 7:30am on Tuesday 6 September 2022, Boris compared his tenure to that of a ‘booster rocket’ that has ‘fulfilled its function’. He references his three years as premier by going over his achievements in unemployment, foreign affairs in Eastern Europe and the COVID pandemic. There have been four Conservative leaders to take residence at 10 Downing Street in the last six years, which Boris acknowledges by likening the Conservative leadership over the past six years as somewhat of a ‘relay race’, he addresses passing on the baton to Liz Truss. 

‘Like Cincinnatus I am returning to my plough’

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a 5th century farmer, was elected as dictator by The Senate of Ancient Rome so that the republic could be protected from the invasion in 458 BC - thus he was asked to leave his plough. The farmer agreed to become leader in this crisis and after proving victorious he left the Senate and went on with returning to his plough. However, later Cincinnatus returned to ruling in The Senate of Ancient Rome in 439 BC - so is this a hint that we have not seen the last of Boris Johnson in a political leadership role?

Pictured: Liz Truss (Credit: Instagram)

The Future For The New Prime Minister

However, with the most difficult in-tray for a new Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher in 1979, Liz Truss has a magnitude of issues to deal with. The nation is currently facing a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis, inflation, strikes across various industries, a health service crisis, a climate crisis/drought across the country, an absent executive in Northern Ireland, the question of Scottish Independence, foreign tensions in Eastern Europe, and finally, a fragmented ruling party. 

By Saffron-Lucia Gilbert-Kaluba