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The newly elected British Prime Minister Liz Truss is going to appoint the first cabinet in history in which none of the great offices of state will be held by a white man. In foreign policy, Truss’ policy may lead to a new wave of disagreements with the British allies in Europe, while in the home policies, it is unlikely to somehow improve the situation. Truss’ victory has already resulted in resignation of a number of high-ranking British officials.
Liz Truss will continue the course chosen by her predecessor. She will provide maximum assistance to Ukraine and put maximum pressure on Russia, as London considers Moscow as the main threat to its security. This means that in the foreseeable future, relations between the two countries will deteriorate rapidly what will not contribute to the European security.
The energy crisis in Europe has been ongoing for more than a year, but it intensified in the summer due to record heat and anti-Russian sanctions. In particular in Britain, the reflected in record electricity bills.
From October 1, electricity prices in Britain will rise by 80%, and the average marginal household bill will exceed £3,500, the regulator Ofgem warned earlier. Truss intends to fix the marginal price at the level of £1971. Thus, the total cost of the program could be up to £130 billion over the next 18 months. By mid-August, the debt of UK residents for electricity reached a record £1.3 billion, and inflation exceeded 10.1% for the first time in 40 years.
This means that the Trust and her cabinet face important challenges along the way.
It was reported that Truss has already decided on candidates for the posts of heads of key ministries of her cabinet. She is expected to replace all white men in the highest positions in the government, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Interior, in favor of a more “diverse” composition.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, is certain to be chancellor. The son of Ghanaian immigrants, he only received his first cabinet job in January last year but has been a close ally of Truss since they entered the Commons together in 2010, The Times reported.
The pound and British government bond prices have fallen heavily in recent weeks with some investors expressing concern about Truss’ plans. On Monday, he tried to calm the markets, saying in an article in the Financial Times that “some fiscal easing” would be required under Truss, but that her administration would act in a “fiscally responsible way.” Mr Kwarteng’s first actions will include reversing the national insurance increase and scrapping a planned rise in corporation tax.
He’s author of two heavyweight books, including “Ghosts of Empire,” on the legacy of empire in today’s world. Being an opponent of neoconservatism, he may may interfere with the “hawkish” Truss’ policy. According to parliamentary monitoring website TheyWorkForYou, Kwarteng has “consistently voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits”.
James Cleverley, who was Minister of State for Europe and North America under Boris Johnson, should be appointed Foreign Secretary. He will keep up Truss’ strong support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia as well as a hardline on China, with a more hawkish attitude to Beijing expected. However, he first has to end the Brexit paralysis over Northern Ireland. Truss has constantly expressed her tough position on all three main issues, and she is not expected to tone down her ‘robust’ rhetoric.
Attorney General Suella Braverman may become Home Secretary. She is expected to go into conflict with the European Union over sending migrants to Rwanda. During her leadership campaign in July, the attorney general said it was ‘unacceptable’ that a last-minute intervention by the European Court of Human Rights had scuppered the first attempt at a Rwanda deportation flight. She said leaving the European Convention on Human Rights – and the Strasbourg court which oversees it – was required to ‘take back control of our borders’. Taking into account the unresolved situation in Northern Ireland, it is obvious that a new big fight between London and Brussels will soon begin.
Therese Coffey
Another interesting member of the Truss team is Therese Coffey. The new Prime Minister is expected to make her cigar-chomping friend Health Secretary. Dr Coffey was elected to the House of Commons for the first time on the same day as Ms Truss in May 2010 – and the pair quickly became close friends.
With such a team, the tough policy of Liz Truss may lead to escalations on both international and domestic front lines. Amid all the turmoil shaking Britain, her premiership may bring the tragic finale of the 12-year rule of the Tories closer.
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