London politics LIVE: Liz Truss appoints Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor as she enters No 10
L
iz Truss has said she is confident the nation can “ride out the storm” as she vowed to transform Britain into an “aspiration nation” in her first speech from Downing Street as Prime Minister.
Ms Truss gave a short speech setting out her vision for Government from outside Number 10 after a meeting with Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral.
In an address to the nation, Ms Truss said: “We will transform Britain into an aspiration nation with high-paying jobs, safe streets and where everyone everywhere has the opportunities they deserve.
“I will take action this day and action every day to make it happen.”
Boris Johnson’s successor waste no time shaping her cabinet with Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay and Grant Shapps all being sacked on Tuesday evening and announcing they were returning to the backbenches. All three had been prominent backers of Rishi Sunak, Truss’s leadership rival.
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The new prime minister made a series of high-profile appointments, including Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Therese Coffey as Deputy PM and Health Secretary, while James Cleverley becomes the new Foreign Secretary.
Ms Truss vowed the country could overcome its challenging economic prospects, telling the public: “I’m confident that together we can ride out the storm, we can rebuild our economy and we can become the modern brilliant Britain that I know we can be.
“This is our vital mission to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations. I’m determined to deliver.”
Ms Truss, 47, is the third female to hold office in history, and the 15th prime minister appointed under the Queen’s reign. The first was Winston Churchill in 1952.
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Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of what has been a historic day in Westminster.
For a recap of the main events of the day, please read our story here.
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New Northern Ireland Secretary appointed
Chris Heaton-Harris has been appointed as Northern Ireland Secretary.
Mr Heaton-Harris, the MP for Daventry, previous held the roles of parliamentary secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip.
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Michelle Donelan becomes new Culture Secretary
Michelle Donelan has been appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Ms Donelan had been tipped by some to become Education Secretary, but this was taken by Kit Malthouse.
The previous Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said she had been offered to stay in the post, but said earlier Tuesday she decided to serve from the backbenches.
Michelle Donelan
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Anne-Marie Trevelyan appointed Transport Secretary
Anne-Marie Trevelyan left Downing Street following her appointment as Transport Secretary, taking over the portfolio from Grant Shapps.
Ms Trevelyan had previously been International Trade Secretary. She will face dealing with a slew of strikes affecting the transport network.
Anne Marie Trevelyan
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Ranil Jayawardena new Environment Secretary
Ranil Jayawardena has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, No10 said.
He has previously served as Minister for International Trade and is MP for North East Hampshire.
Ranil Jayawardena
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Kit Malthouse named new Education Secretary
Kit Malthouse, the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will be the new Education Secretary.
This is more of an unexpected appointment than some of the others, as some had tipped Michelle Donelan, who resigned from the post less than 36 hours after accepting it as Boris Johnson’s premiership collapsed around him in July, to take the post instead.
Kit Malthouse
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New Work and Pensions Secretary named as Chloe Smith
In the latest flurry of new appointments, Chloe Smith has been appointed Work and Pensions Secretary, Downing Street said.
A fellow Norfolk MP, like Liz Truss, Ms Smith will take over Therese Coffey’s former role at the Department for Work and Pensions. Ms Coffey was promoted to be the new Health Secretary and Deputy PM.
Chloe Smith (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
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Kemi Badenoch confirmed as new International Trade Secretary
Kemi Badenoch, has been confirmed as the new International Trade Secretary, taking over from Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
Ms Badenoch, who performed well in the Westminster stage of the leadership contest finishing fourth, had been tipped for a role in Ms Truss’s team.
Kemi Badenoch during the Tory leadership contest
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Rees-Mogg: ‘No-one fails to realize scale of energy crisis’
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new Business Secretary, is the only Cabinet minister to give an interview to journalists outside No10 after leaving the building.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “We have to help businesses and individuals, and a package will be brought forward shortly.”
Mr Rees-Mogg refused to go into details, but said “nobody fails to realize the size of the problem”.
Commenting on Boris Johnson’s departure, he said the former prime minister “went out with dignity” – but that he wouldn’t be coming back.
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Simon Clarke confirmed as new Leveling Up secretary
Simon Clarke has been confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, Downing Street said.
Mr Clarke had been tipped for the role, which was previously held by Greg Clark, who served in the role for less than two months.
He had held the role after Michael Gove was sacked by Boris Johnson amid a wave of mass resignations which brought down the former Prime Minister.
Simon Clarke
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