10 things to know about UK’s next Prime Minister, Liz Truss

Mary Elizabeth Truss, 47, has been named as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, replacing Boris Johnson as Britain’s next leader. 

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As she assumes office, Daily Trust highlight ten things to know about the lady simply called Liz Truss, Britain’s 56th Prime Minister and the third woman in history to lead the affairs of the UK.

• Mary Elizabeth Truss was born on July 26, 1975, to John Kenneth and Priscilla Mary Truss. While her father is an emeritus professor of pure mathematics at the University of Leeds; her mother was a nurse, teacher and member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

• From an early age, she has been known by her middle name, Elizabeth. She read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Merton College, Oxford, graduating in 1996.

• Truss was active in the Liberal Democrats. She was president of Oxford University Liberal Democrats and a member of the national executive committee of Liberal Democrat Youth and Students (LDYS). She later joined the Conservative Party in 1996. Now, she leads the party.

• From 1996 to 2000, Truss worked for Shell, during which time she qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) in 1999. In 2000, Truss was employed by Cable & Wireless and rose to the economic director before leaving in 2005.

• She is currently serving as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since 2021 and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2019.

• A member of the Conservative Party, she has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk since 2010. She has served in various Cabinet positions under Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

• After David Cameron resigned as Prime Minister in July 2016, Truss was appointed Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor by Theresa May, becoming the first female Lord Chancellor in the thousand-year history of the office.

• Liz Truss is the UK’s 56th prime minister and the third female prime minister to lead the country. The previous female prime ministers – Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May – were also from the Conservative Party.

• In 2000, Truss married Hugh O’Leary, a fellow accountant; the couple has two daughters.

• From 2004 until mid-2005, she had an extra-marital affair with married MP Mark Field, whom the Conservative Party had appointed as her political mentor. However, her marriage with O’Leary survived the affair.