Liz Truss to take over as U.K.’s next Prime Minister

Long the front-runner in the race to replace Boris Johnson, Liz Truss became the Conservatives' fourth prime minister since a 2015 election

Liz Truss was announced the leader of the governing Conservative Party and Britain's next Prime Minister on September 5, taking power at a time when the country faces a cost of living crisis, industrial unrest and a recession.

After weeks of an often bad-tempered and divisive party leadership contest that pitted Ms. Truss against Rishi Sunak, a former finance minister, Monday's announcement triggered the beginning of a handover from Boris Johnson.

Also Read | Rishi Sunak vs Liz Truss: key policy differences

Mr. Johnson was forced to announce his resignation in July after months of scandal and he will travel to Scotland to meet Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday to officially tender his resignation. Ms. Truss will follow him and be asked to form a government.

Long the front-runner in the race to replace Mr. Johnson, Ms. Truss became the Conservatives' fourth prime minister since a 2015 election. Over that period the country has been buffeted from crisis to crisis, and now faces what is forecast to be a long recession triggered by sky-rocketing inflation which hit 10.1% in July.

(With Reuters inputs)