Editor's Pick: Lizz Truss quits after 45 days in power

Liz Truss announced on Thursday that she would resign as British Prime Minister, after serving a brief and chaotic term. Speaking from 10 Downing Street, Ms. Truss, who had declared only a day earlier that she is a “fighter, not a quitter”, threw in the towel saying she “cannot deliver the mandate” on which she was elected by the Conservative Party. She also announced that “a leadership election” will be completed by next week. Ms. Truss was selected as the third woman Prime Minister of Britain by the Conservative Party following a fierce contest with Rishi Sunak. She replaced Boris Johnson, who was forced to step down from the premiership following a string of scandals, including a “partygate” during COVID-19. Ms. Truss was thrust into the international limelight just two days after assuming power, with the Queen’s death. In just 45 days, Ms. Truss ushered in a new era of monarchy in Britain; announced historic tax cuts that sent the economy spiralling, sank the pound and sent the markets into a tizzy; fired the Chancellor; and saw the controversial Home Secretary quit, before stepping down herself. As this editorial pointed out, “far from being the leader who could extricate the Conservative Party from its shambolic, scandal-ridden image, Ms. Truss has likely added the label of “incompetence” to the Tory governance image”. Ms. Truss’s term was so disastrous that a national newspaper in Britain started a live feed on Friday showing an unrefrigerated lettuce near a picture of her asking its readers: “Which wet lettuce will last longer?” The Prime Minister’s final ignominy was that the lettuce won the contest. The U.K. now is heading towards a fifth Conservative Prime Minister since 2016. The next leader has the herculean task of tackling double-digit inflation, a weakened pound, and soaring energy costs; a restive Scotland; the longer-term economic ramifications of Brexit; and the woes that come with the seemingly unending crisis in Ukraine. The leading contenders for the post, according to various reports, are Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. The biggest challenge will be to gain the trust of voters, who are angry with the uncertainty and instability and with Britain’s losing prestige. The choice of the next leader is extremely crucial for a nation that is tired of upheavals and this is why this is the top pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Checks without balance: On China’s lock to prevent listing of terrorists Extended family: On Mallikarjun Kharge’s election as Congress president The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as the new Congress president on Wednesday. This is the first time in how many years that the party will have a non-Gandhi leader occupying the top post? 30 24 32 18 To know the answer and to take the quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 21 OCTOBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Lizz Truss quits after 45 days in power Liz Truss announced on Thursday that [she would resign as British Prime Minister]( after serving a brief and chaotic term. Speaking from 10 Downing Street, Ms. Truss, who had declared only a day earlier that she is a “fighter, not a quitter”, threw in the towel saying she “cannot deliver the mandate” on which she was elected by the Conservative Party. She also announced that “a leadership election” will be completed by next week. Ms. Truss was selected as the third woman Prime Minister of Britain by the Conservative Party following a fierce contest with Rishi Sunak. She replaced Boris Johnson, who was forced to step down from the premiership following a string of scandals, including a “partygate” during COVID-19. Ms. Truss was thrust into the international limelight just two days after assuming power, with the Queen’s death. In just 45 days, Ms. Truss ushered in a new era of monarchy in Britain; announced historic tax cuts that sent the economy spiralling, sank the pound and sent the [markets into a tizzy]( fired the Chancellor; and saw the controversial Home Secretary quit, before stepping down herself. As [this editorial]( pointed out, “far from being the leader who could extricate the Conservative Party from its shambolic, scandal-ridden image, Ms. Truss has likely added the label of “incompetence” to the Tory governance image”. Ms. Truss’s term was so disastrous that a national newspaper in Britain [started a live feed]( on Friday showing an unrefrigerated lettuce near a picture of her asking its readers: “Which wet lettuce will last longer?” The Prime Minister’s final ignominy was that the lettuce won the contest. The U.K. now is heading towards a fifth Conservative Prime Minister since 2016. The next leader has the herculean task of tackling double-digit inflation, a weakened pound, and soaring energy costs; a restive Scotland; the longer-term economic ramifications of Brexit; and the woes that come with the seemingly unending crisis in Ukraine. The leading contenders for the post, according to various reports, are [Rishi Sunak]( and Boris Johnson. The biggest challenge will be to gain the trust of voters, who are angry with the uncertainty and instability and with Britain’s losing prestige. The choice of the next leader is extremely crucial for a nation that is tired of upheavals and this is why this is the top pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Checks without balance: On China’s lock to prevent listing of terrorists]( [Arrow][Extended family: On Mallikarjun Kharge’s election as Congress president]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as the new Congress president on Wednesday. This is the first time in how many years that the party will have a non-Gandhi leader occupying the top post? - 30 - 24 - 32 - 18 To know the answer and to take the quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[PM Modi to  launch drive to fill 10 lakh posts in government, PSUs] PM Modi to  launch drive to fill 10 lakh posts in government, PSUs]( [[Malpractice charges by Tharoor’s team are baseless: Mistry] Malpractice charges by Tharoor’s team are baseless: Mistry]( [[India eyeing $5 billion exports, $22 billion turnover in defence sector by 2025: Rajnath Singh] India eyeing $5 billion exports, $22 billion turnover in defence sector by 2025: Rajnath Singh]( [[RSS affiliate Bajrang Dal launches ‘Join Bajrang Dal’ campaign, targets millions of youth] RSS affiliate Bajrang Dal launches ‘Join Bajrang Dal’ campaign, targets millions of youth]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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