Lanarkshire’s politicians have responded to the news that Liz Truss will be the next Prime Minister, with opposition members insisting she must immediately take urgent action on energy prices and the cost of living.
The foreign secretary was today announced as the winner of the leadership election to succeed the resigning Boris Johnson, defeating former chancellor Rishi Sunak by gaining 57 per cent of the vote among Conservative members.
Political colleagues say she will work on uniting their party and facing “challenges” ahead – while responses from local parliamentarians include saying Ms Truss is “neither a fresh start nor a change in direction” and even the prediction that she “will be a disaster of a Prime Minister”.
Ms Truss – who will officially take up office tomorrow following a historic audience with the Queen at Balmoral – was congratulated by Conservative colleagues including deputy Scottish party leader Meghan Gallacher MSP.
She told Lanarkshire Live: “It is an incredibly tough challenge ahead; however, I’m confident that under Liz’s leadership our party can come together quickly to start addressing the challenges facing our country.
“Liz has always demonstrated a tenacity to get positive results, whether negotiating the removal of tariffs on whisky or orchestrating the UK’s robust response in support of Ukraine, and I look forward to working alongside Liz and her new cabinet to ensure we deliver the best outcomes for Scotland and the United Kingdom.”
Fellow Central Scotland list member Graham Simpson added: “I backed Liz Truss to be Prime Minister and I am looking forward to her starting the job and to seeing her visit Scotland as soon as possible.
“Her first priority must be to tackle the cost of energy issue which is a real worry for everyone.
"Liz has said that growth is her priority; she is right to do so and will make sure that it is growth across the UK.
“She has shown herself to be a steely defender of the United Kingdom, so I am very hopeful that she will not put up with any of the SNP’s nonsense.”
North Lanarkshire Conservative group leader Sandy Watson, the Airdrie South councillor, added that he was “pleased” about the leadership outcome and said: “I’m confident that Liz Truss has the vision and policies to tackle these hugely challenging times.
“It is crucial that the party comes together now, and we fully focus on supporting people and businesses through the cost of living crisis – alongside Conservative colleagues, I will work to ensure that support is delivered to those who need it most.”
Opposition reaction included both Angela Crawley MP and Clare Haughey MSP saying the new Prime Minister would be “a disaster” – respectively saying that she “committed to the race to the right and to imposing damaging policies on Scotland against our will”; and that “the signs suggest she could be even worse than Boris Johnson”.
Lanark and Hamilton East representative Ms Crawley told us: “The Tories have wasted far too much time making this decision and have left a zombie government doing nothing to help my constituents as the cost of living crisis worsens – the plans put forward by the new Tory leader barely scratch the surface of what is needed to ensure no one is left unable to feed their families or heat their homes this winter.”
Ms Haughey agreed that the new Prime Minister “must now freeze energy bills for households and businesses, deliver more cash support, increase funding for public services, and respect Scotland’s democratic wishes to hold an independence referendum”.
SNP colleague Anum Qaisar, the Airdrie & Shotts MP, said: “Liz Truss has done little to alleviate people’s concerns about the cost of living; people are no longer choosing between heating and eating, they are simply unable to do both.
“We need tangible policy measures in the coming days, and we are calling on Ms Truss to cancel the rise in energy bills immediately, scrap VAT on fuel bills, and deliver a major package of support to put cash in people’s pockets [and] extend to businesses who are bearing the brunt as costs skyrocket.”
Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill counterpart Steven Bonnar MP spoke of “the new PM’s determination to imitate Margaret Thatcher” and added: “Thatcherite policies decimated our communities and the Tories’ lack of concern for the most vulnerable is as clear today as it has ever been.”
Clare Adamson, the Motherwell & Wishaw MSP, echoed the calls for action on the “soaring” cost of living and added: “The new Prime Minister must bring about meaningful reform to social security to help those at the sharp end of this crisis.
“We have also called repeatedly for a broader windfall tax; the Tories bang on about levelling up but big companies are making eye-watering profits while people are preparing to spend winter at ‘warm banks’.”
Monica Lennon, the Central Scotland Labour MSP, called for “an early general election”, saying: “Liz Truss is neither a fresh start nor a change in direction – as the longest-serving cabinet minister, [she] has had collective responsibility for the cruelty and chaos that has defined the Tories in government these past 12 years.
“While the Tories have meandered through the summer with an absent Prime Minister, the cost of living crisis has tightened its grip and millions of people face being plunged into poverty.
"If the new Prime Minister needs help in understanding the gravity of the situation, I’d be happy to take them round Lanarkshire to see first-hand the impact the lack of government support is having on residents and businesses.”
Marion Fellows, the Motherwell & Wishaw MP, said Ms Truss “represents a continuation of Boris Britain” and said: “The new PM must scrap the planned energy price rise and must also, as a priority, introduce support packages for individuals and businesses who are only just starting to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
“Tax cuts for the rich won’t help. She needs to help people and fast.”
East Kilbride counterpart Dr Lisa Cameron said: “I have written to the new Prime Minister today to emphasise how vital it is that urgent support is provided for hard-.working families, businesses and those on low incomes including pensioners.
“Her urgent priority needs to be the cost of living crisis and supporting those most vulnerable, because making ends meet is now critical for many people across our constituency.”
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
