DOutgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised his successor, Liz Truss, “nothing but vigorous support”. The Conservative politician said this on Tuesday in a final speech as British Prime Minister in London’s Downing Street. Hundreds of employees, members of parliament, photographers and reporters had gathered in the blocked-off street.
With the appearance in the morning, Johnson said goodbye to the top government after a good three years in office. As usual, the 58-year-old politician humorously dismissed speculation about a possible comeback, but did not leave any doubt as to how serious he was about it. “Let me say that I am now like one of those launch vehicles that has done its job and gently reenters the atmosphere and sinks invisibly somewhere in a distant part of the Pacific,” Johnson said.
Johnson recounted the actual and alleged achievements of his reign – including Brexit, the rapid distribution of corona vaccines, the early support of Ukraine with arms deliveries, the fight against crime and the construction of new hospitals.
Reception this time in Balmoral
He then got into a car with his wife Carrie and set off for Scotland. He is due around noon for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, where he will ask for his release from office. Immediately afterwards, the 96-year-old head of state will commission Liz Truss to form a government. Truss also wants to address the nation from Downing Street in the afternoon.
The Queen traditionally stays at her Scottish country estate, Balmoral Castle, from mid-July to mid-September. The fact that she does not receive the politicians at Buckingham Palace in London has to do with the mobility problems of the 96-year-old monarch, who, with Liz Truss, has now seen three female and twelve prime ministers during her reign.
Truss is expected to outline the outlines of a plan to cushion the huge rise in the cost of living. In Great Britain, too, there are fears that the energy costs that have skyrocketed as a result of the Ukraine war could put millions of households in financial difficulties.
According to a report in the tabloid “Sun”, the prices for gas and electricity are to be frozen – a project that, according to the report, is likely to cost the British state at least 40 billion pounds (around 46.5 billion euros). At the same time, if Truss sticks to its announcements that it will cut taxes, it will be a difficult balancing act. Add to this the problems of the chronically underfunded NHS health service and massive public sector dissatisfaction with wages and salaries.
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