Liz Truss Wins the Conservative Party Leadership Race
Nell Wedgwood Explores Ms Truss’ Victory Speech to the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster.
A divided Conservative Party announced Liz Truss as its elected replacement for Prime Minister and leader of the party, Boris Johnson on Monday afternoon. While her victory was widely expected, it was not quite the landslide many were prepared for. Ms Truss achieved 57.4% of the vote, the smallest margin in 20 years since the 2001 introduction of direct grassroots elections.
Following the announcement of her win by Sir Graham Brady, Ms Truss gave a short acceptance speech. The speech lasted five minutes, and contained several pauses for reserved applause. However, Truss still left smiling to a standing ovation, with albeit mixed facial expressions visible in the crowd.
Here are some key points from the speech:
“You are admired from Kyiv to Carlisle”
Ms Truss of course nodded to outgoing Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Truss is seen by many as a continuity candidate for Johnson. However, it will have irked many - including Tory audience members - considering the context of his step-down. Rishi Sunak’s resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer in July is seen by many as a catalyst to the Tory rebellion that ended Johnson’s premiership. The revolters certainly won’t be eagerly welcoming in a Johnson mini-me. Her nod to Carlisle also seems a deliberate choice. Her (quickly reneged) plans for regional pay boards during her campaign faced much backlash, particularly from Northern communities who felt isolated by the proposals for pay cuts in line with regional living costs.
”I know that our beliefs resonate with the British people”
This speech seemed to be prepared in line with poll predictions of a much wider margin of victory. Sunak’s 42.6% of the vote counts for a lot. While saying she would like to “pay tribute” to Sunak in her speech, Truss notably walked past Sunak without acknowledgment after the results of the elections were announced, eschewing a handshake on her way to the podium - perhaps not a choice cohesive with her desire to present a unifying image for her Party and the country.
”I campaigned as a Conservative – and I will govern as a Conservative”
Ms Truss seems clear in her will to have people forget her centrist origins in the Liberal Democrat Party. While deviating from previous leaders like David Cameron who aimed to govern as centrist may help secure faith from more Tory Party members, it may not bode well for future campaign plans. In the latest polls on voting intention the Conservatives are now down to 28%, with Labour rising to 43%. It will be interesting to see where on the political spectrum she falls in practice as PM.
”We will deliver, we will deliver, we will deliver”
Truss’s speech included multiple references to delivery, in ironic contrast to her uncertainty around Johnson’s delivery unit, and her subsequent clear out of the unit on Tuesday morning. As for what she will deliver, the jury is still out. Truss made vague references to delivery of tax cuts, economy growth, the energy crisis, and the NHS, but how, when and what she will deliver remains indefinite.
“And we will deliver a great victory for the Conservative Party in 2024”
Ms Truss has shut down all speculation of the possibility of a snap general election. It is perhaps a wise move to give herself time to win over the general public, with polls from YouGov currently showing 52% of Britons expecting Liz Truss to make a poor or terrible PM, and only 12% thinking she could be good or great. She also is currently losing to Keir Starmer in polls for competence and likability.