Liz Truss must reach out to all shades of opinion in her party, not merely promote those loyal to her WIKTOR SZYMANOWICZ/GETTY IMAGESLiz Truss may have emerged victorious in the contest to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister, but she will have little chance to savour her triumph. Few leaders have reached the top of the greasy pole in more turbulent times or under less propitious circumstances. A ridiculously long and frequently divisive campaign has left her party deeply divided. Her margin of victory over Rishi Sunak was less emphatic than expected, at 57 per cent to 43 per cent. She becomes the first leader of her party to take office having failed to secure the support of either a majority of Conservative MPs or a majority of eligible voters, after 18 per cent of party members abstained.

Source: The Times September 06, 2022 03:43 UTC