‘Together we can ride out the storm,’ says Liz Truss in 1st speech as British PM

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - New British Prime Minister Liz Truss gave her first speech outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, telling the nation: “Together we can ride out the storm."

"As strong as the storm may be I know that the British people are stronger,” she said.

Truss paid tribute to her predecessor, saying: "Boris Johnson delivered Brexit, the COVID vaccine and stood up to Russian aggression. History will see him as a hugely consequential prime minister.”

She then set out her three main priorities: Growing the economy through tax cuts and reform, dealing with the energy crisis, and improving the service provided by the National Health Service (NHS).

"I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investments," Truss said. "I will drive reform in my mission to get the United Kingdom working building and growing."

On the energy crisis due to Russia's war on Ukraine, which in turn has triggered a cost-of-living crisis, the Conservative party leader said: "I will take action this week to deal with energy bills and to secure our future energy supply."

"I will make sure that people can get doctor appointments and the NHS services they need. We will put our health service on a firm footing by delivering on the economy, on energy and on the NHS," she added.

Truss continued: "We will transform Britain into an aspiration nation with high paying jobs, safe streets, and where everyone everywhere has the opportunities they deserve.”

She argued that "we can rebuild our economy and we can become the modern brilliant Britain that I know we can be."

It is said that Truss will place a cap on energy bills until the next general election in two years’ time, a policy that could cost around £100 billion ($115 billion).

This would see the government pay energy companies for the difference between the market price and the price they sell energy to people and businesses.​​​​​​​

The money would either come from borrowing, and either paid back via national debt repayments or via energy bills over the longer term when prices decrease to normal levels again.