Liz Truss was an early backer of Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership race (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Liz Truss sure is getting busy, after the Tory MP bagged another ministerial role at the weekend following Lord Frost’s resignation as Brexit minister.
Resigning with immediate effect on Saturday, the Conservative peer expressed “concerns about the current direction of travel” on the EU exit and told Boris Johnson that “we also need to learn to live with Covid”.
“I hope we can get back on track soon and not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere,” Lord Frost added. He also expressed his desire for the UK to become a “lightly regulated, low-tax” economy.
The politician’s resignation was despite him previously agreeing to step down from the role in January.
At the end of a week involving Christmas party scandals and Tory rebellions, the prime minister appointed Truss – who is currently foreign secretary and women and equalities minister – as Lord Frost’s replacement.
Confirming the news on Twitter, the South West Norfolk MP said she was “pleased” to take on the new role.
Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
As is to be expected, political opponents weren’t.
“I guess this is one way of scuppering a rival,” tweeted Labour MP Jess Phillips.
I guess this is one way of scuppering a rival https://t.co/lPVlk6T0GH
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) December 19, 2021
The Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson, Layla Moran, made similar remarks: “The Tories are tearing themselves apart under Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister is more interested in setting his leadership rivals up to fail than doing what’s right for the country.
“Liz Truss has shown time and again that she doesn’t care about the national interest – she’s only interested in appealing to Conservative party members. That is a disgrace.”
Yes, that appears to be a reference to Truss’ infamous 2014 party conference speech, in which she expressed her dismay at cheese imports and her excitement at opening up new pork markets in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow Brexit minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said: “After the past few days of chaos at the heart of Government, I congratulate Liz Truss on her appointment as lead negotiator with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol.”
Twitter users also heaped on the ridicule:
Liz Truss has got to be the most overpromoted person in the history of all history since records began
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaPurkiss) December 19, 2021
If Liz Truss gets the top job, she should be forever known as PM Pork Markets. At least we will know exactly what PM stands for 😂 pic.twitter.com/iCLDOSBwuT
— Austin Cambridge (@a60countryman) December 19, 2021
When Liz Truss was in the Lib Dems, I was more Eurosceptic than she was. Just saying…😇
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) December 19, 2021
Why are this government determined to try and make me take Liz Truss seriously.
— Rosie Holt (@RosieisaHolt) December 19, 2021
On balance my initial take is that it's better to give the Brexit brief to Liz Truss than a swivel eyed ideologue like IDS. A deeply shallow person: her first impulse will be to frame any agreement in terms of a photo opportunity rather than to pursue an ideological obsession.
— Steve Peers (@StevePeers) December 19, 2021
So Foreign Secretary Liz Truss becomes lead negotiator with EU on Northern Ireland Protocol, following departure of Lord Frost. Haven’t the island of Ireland suffered enough?!
— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) December 19, 2021
Liz Truss: Foreign Secretary; minister for international development; minister for women and equalities…and now, in addition, Brexit minister.
— Peter Kyle MP (@peterkyle) December 19, 2021
Her additional role is to reshape our dysfunctional and underperforming EU relationship.
Hard to see that as a part time job.
Liz Truss says she is "pleased" to be taking over as the minister responsible for Brexit.
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) December 19, 2021
Here she is in 2016 talking about why it would be a disaster. pic.twitter.com/QQgOVBAZQp
Boris Johnson got Liz Truss in the Secret Santa and has gifted her a trampoline and a bucket of shit.
— Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) December 19, 2021
Of the 24 members of David Cameron’s Tory cabinet 5 years ago, only 3 are still in office & only one (Liz Truss) has been in office continuously since May 2016
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) December 19, 2021
Frost is the 47th ministerial resignation related to Brexit
A revolution devouring its children
".. and then he said he was putting Liz Truss in charge of the Brexit negotiations.." pic.twitter.com/aOQO639aOQ
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 19, 2021
The purpose of a surgical truss is to support bollocks, while the purpose of Liz Truss is to… well. Same thing really.
— Jonathan Pie (@JonathanPieNews) December 19, 2021
Liz Truss seemed like the natural choice to take over the #Brexit negotiations. pic.twitter.com/P4Z3iI1xiA
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 19, 2021
Truss’ appointment also comes despite her previously supporting remain at the time of the 2016 EU referendum.
