UK Election 2022: Liz Truss the embattled Prime Minister of Britain is facing the most torrid times of her political career after her six-week-long government faces the worst indictment for her pseudo-liberal economic policies that resulted in one of the worst financial crises.
- Calls are getting louder every day for her ouster.
- Truss faces a rebellion inside the governing Conservative Party that leaves her leadership hanging by a thread.
- Political Analysts claim that her days are numbered.
- Truss is still in charge despite the U-turn, says Hunt.
- The message from 10, Downing Street – they are ready to listen.
- Chancellor warns of tax rises and cuts on spending.
- Many Tory MPs are doom-laden – what will they do next?
The debate in the past 72 hours has been about how long Liz Truss can survive in Downing Street. A handful of Conservative MPs have now called publicly on the Prime Minister to resign. More could well follow soon.
Many others argued Liz Truss would have to leave office before the next election. Some believed she could hang on for a few more months. But an increasing number argue she has weeks or even days left – even though there’s no clarity on how that would come about or who would take over.
One former cabinet minister concluded: “People know that this is over – it’s a question of how and when.”
Now, the race to succeed Liz Truss begins. There is no agreement among Tory MPs on who the new leader should be: some want Penny Mordaunt, others Jeremy Hunt, others Rishi Sunak. Few are voting for Boris Johnson.
Here are the main contenders who could take over:
Penny Mordaunt
The former Defence and Trade Minister was an early favourite to succeed Johnson and came within 8 votes of dethroning Truss to the run-off against Sunak. She was a strong ‘Brexit’ supporter for which her popularity in Tories’ grassroots is unchallenged.
Mordaunt’s persona rose this week after she was sent out on Monday in place of Truss to answer an urgent question in parliament from the Labour opposition about the recent economic turmoil. Despite immense pressure from the opposition that Truss is hiding – Mordaunt appeared very confident with a febrile House of Commons.
It is reported that Mordaunt sent a senior ally to Rishi Sunak about forming a unity ticket, but the ex-Finance Minister refused to accept because he may not wish to be a junior partner.
Jeremy Hunt
The new finance minister has been a candidate in the Tories’ past two leadership contests. He lost in the final run-off in 2019 to Johnson and finished in last place in the first ballot of MPs this year.
His appointment to the second most powerful job in government has returned the former foreign secretary from political oblivion to centre stage, and his assured performance and effective steps so far have augmented his standing.
As Conservative MPs plot Truss’s ousting, some suggest Hunt – an ex-entrepreneur who garners most support from the centrist wing of the party – could emerge as a competent unity candidate.
Rishi Sunak
The various promises of Truss like slashing taxes and regulations without curbing government spending acted as the trump card for winning members within her party and that galvanized her prospects – she defeated Sunak with the promises that appeared quite effectual at that time. Ultimately those economic policies brought the worst crisis within 6-weeks and the beleaguered Truss is facing the greatest revolt from the same conservatives. Sunak repeatedly warned that her plans to fund the proposals through extra borrowing were reckless and could worsen decades-high inflation as well as market confidence in Britain. And now he has proved correct – and Truss has scrapped all her economic policies and plans, and replaced her Finance Minister with Rishi Sunak-backed Jeremy Hunt – this facilitates Sunak to regain his lost support and he appears as the best-placed Conservative MP to replace Truss.
In the early rounds of the leadership contest, Sunak gained the support of the largest number of Tory lawmakers and is thought to still enjoy significant support within the parliamentary party.
A new YouGov poll found he has the best ratings of the touted alternatives to Truss – albeit still with an overall net favourability rating of -18.
Boris Johnson
A recent ‘YouGov’ poll showed the 58-year-old is far more popular than Truss. Yet around two-thirds of those asked had an unfavourable opinion of him.
Boris Johnson resigned after a revolt among his Cabinet and Tory MPs, sparked by the resignation of Sunak and others from his faltering government following months of controversies.
Boris Johnson’s popularity in a large section of Conservative MPs remains intact as he spearheaded the ‘Brexit’ campaign, but his scandal-tainted 3-year tenure severely dented his acceptance in the wider electorate spectrum.
Whatever happens this week, but then all is not well with the Conservative Party. Political analysts say that in a mid-term poll situation, the Conservatives will face colossal loss.
Although, Liz’s position is undoubtedly precarious – but the remaining options are also equally difficult.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
