Liz Truss

Mary Elizabeth Truss, born on 26 July 1975, is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. During her tenure, she was the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, resigning after fifty days in office amid a government crisis. Truss was the Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk from 2010 until 2024.

Early Life and Education:

Truss was born at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, England, to John and Priscilla Truss (née Grasby). Her father was a professor of pure mathematics at the University of Leeds. She was the second child; her first sibling, Matthew, had died the year before her birth. Known by her middle name Elizabeth from early childhood, she preferred it over her given name, Mary. Her family was politically inclined; her mother, a teacher and nurse, was a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, while her parents' politics were described as being "to the left of Labour."

In 1977, her family moved to Warsaw, Poland, but returned to Britain after a brief period. Subsequently, they lived in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, and then Paisley, Scotland. In 1985, they relocated to Leeds, where Truss attended Roundhay School. She also spent a year at Parkcrest Elementary School in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, during her early teenage years, while her father lectured at Simon Fraser University. Truss later enrolled at Oxford University, applying to Merton College but initially placed at St Hilda's College, which she found frustrating. She ultimately attended Merton College, studying philosophy, politics, and economics, and graduated in 1996.

Political Beginnings and Early Career:

Truss was active in the Liberal Democrats during her university years, serving as president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats and participating in the Oxford Reform Club. She supported policies such as the abolition of the monarchy and cannabis legalization. However, by 1995, she became critical of the Liberal Democrats, citing a realization that the Conservative Party was "saying quite sane things," leading her to resign from the Liberal Democrat Youth and Students (LDYS). She joined the Conservative Party in 1996.

Employment and Political Candidatures:

Between 1996 and 2000, Truss worked at Royal Dutch Shell as a chartered management accountant, living in Lewisham and Greenwich. She then worked at Cable & Wireless, rising to the position of economic director before leaving in 2005. In 2008, she became deputy director of the think tank Reform, where she advocated for policies to address organized crime, education standards, and competitiveness. She authored several reports, including "The Value of Mathematics" and "Britannia Unchained."

Truss married Hugh O'Leary in 2000, with whom she has two daughters, Frances (born 2006) and Liberty (born 2008). She also served as chair of the Lewisham Deptford Conservative Association from 1998 to 2000. She twice stood unsuccessfully for election to Greenwich London Borough Council and was a candidate in the 2001 general election for the safe Labour seat of Hemsworth, achieving a modest swing toward the Conservatives.

Parliamentary Career:

Truss was elected as MP for South West Norfolk in the 2010 general election. She called for reforms in various policy areas, including the economy, childcare, and mathematics in education. She co-founded the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs and contributed to publications such as "After the Coalition" and "Britannia Unchained."

Cabinet Positions:

Under three prime ministers—David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson—Truss held various cabinet roles. She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Childcare and Education (2012–2014), Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2014–2016), and, following the 2016 referendum, supported Brexit despite campaigning for Remain. Theresa May appointed her Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, making her the first woman to hold the latter position. After the 2017 general election, she was demoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

During Boris Johnson's premiership, Truss was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade and later became Foreign Secretary in 2021, leading negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol and responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Ministership:

In September 2022, Truss won the Conservative leadership election following Boris Johnson's resignation, becoming prime minister two days before Queen Elizabeth II's death. Her government announced policies such as the Energy Price Guarantee and large-scale tax cuts, which led to economic instability and rapid reversals. She resigned on 20 October 2022, with Rishi Sunak succeeding her as prime minister on 25 October.

Later Political Developments:

After her resignation, Truss remained on the backbenches during Sunak’s tenure as prime minister. She lost her parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election.