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Sept. 6, 2022, 3:24 p.m.

Liz Truss becomes prime minister for the United Kingdom

Summary

The ruling Conservative Party in the United Kingdom made Liz Truss their new leader, setting her up to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. Truss is currently foreign secretary and strongly backs lower taxes and a smaller government. As Laura Barrón-López reports, the shift in leadership comes as the country braces for an acute economic and cost of living crisis. For a transcript of this story, click here .

Five Facts

  • Who is Liz Truss, and what is her background?
  • Where (in what country) is Truss becoming prime minister?
  • How was Truss chosen as prime minister?
  • Why did former prime minister Boris Johnson resign?
  • What are some of Truss's goals for the United Kingdom, according to this story?

Focus Questions

How do you think a change at the head of the United Kingdom's government might change the U.K.'s relationship with the United States? How else do you think Truss becoming prime minister might affect world affairs? Media literacy: How could you find out more about Brexit and how it's shaping the relationship between the U.S. and Europe?

For More

What students can do: Discuss — what issues facing the U.S. are shared by other countries such as the United Kingdom? Read this article about the economy in the U.K. and list which challenges seem similar to U.S. challenges, which are unique to the U.S. and which are unique to United Kingdom.
City workers walk past the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, March 29, 2016. Photo by Toby Melville/REUTERS

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