The British people, as well as fellow MPs, have been reacting to the news that Liz Truss has been elected the new leader of the Conservative Party and is set to be the new Prime Minister. After weeks of campaigning, following the resignation of Boris Johnson, Ms Truss beat fellow Tory MP Rishi Sunak to the title - winning 81,326 votes from the Tory membership, to his 60,399.
The turn out for the election was 82.6 per cent, out of 172,437 Conservative Party members. In a tweet from her official Twitter account shortly after the announcement, Liz Truss said: "I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party.
"Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential."
Read more: Liz Truss named as next Prime Minister after winning Tory leadership race - live updates
The reaction from the country has been pretty mixed - some have shown their support for the party's new leader, others weren't sure if they would have been happy with either Ms Truss or Mr Sunak winning the role. Then there were those calling for a General Election, while some were amused or confused by the way the actual announcement had been broadcast to viewers.
Brits compared the format of the announcement as being like a reality TV show - some compared it to Britain's Got Talent, while Twitter user @Tatum McGreal said: "Why was the prime minister announcement set up like the X factor final? Just missing @radioleary", tagging in the show's famous host Dermot O'Leary. And another, @iamBrianSpilner tweeted: "You know you’ve watched way too much Love Island this year when you’re expecting the next Prime Minister announcement to be left on a cliff hanger and go straight to an ad break".
Meanwhile, in amongst the congratulatory messages from ordinary folk, like Twitter user @LeeSimm36712809, who simply said: "Good luck and work quick" to Ms Truss, some weren't impressed with the announcement - not because of the result, but because of how it was handled. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (@RNID) shared concern in their tweet, which read: "We're disappointed that @Conservatives haven’t followed through on their promise to have a British Sign Language interpreter at the announcement of the new Prime Minister.
"Yet again BSL users are excluded from a moment of national importance."
While @MichaelHucknall was among some who weren't happy with Ms Truss' acceptance speech, which had shined a light on the more positive sides of the Tory party's years in power, saying: "The self congratulatory nature of this Tory leadership campaign announcement is nothing short of vomitable. Our next able Prime Minister should be Sir Keir Starmer."
And even footballing legend Gary Neville (@GNev2) was disappointed by the etiquette on Liz Truss' part, tweeting: "That @Conservatives unity started well by Liz Truss not shaking hands with Sunak and just racing past him".
There were others who voiced their want of a new political party in government, like @esmc38 who said it "was never going to be a good outcome given it had to be a Tory" and @SaniaRiaz_ who eloquently said: "Same s***, different Tory".
And even the kids were getting involved, as @karyn_evans tweeted: "Watching the announcement of the new prime minister on @thismorning and Oakley (age 9) said "Aww great! They voted in a 'Karen' we are all doomed".
Another theme among those voicing their opinions on social media was one of the system being 'broken'. Twitter user @Celticommuter tweeted: "So 80K people decided who the next UK PM is.
"A smaller headcount than a single constituency. Tory members usually over 60, generally Telegraph & Mail readers. The UK constitution is completely broken and unfit for purpose."
This sentiment was shared by a number of trade unions, including the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress @FrancesOGrady who wrote: "Liz Truss got 47% of eligible Tory members. She wouldn't meet the threshold that ministers set for union members voting on strike action".
@CWUnews added: "Liz Truss elected to lead the country by 81,326 votes. Postal workers voting for strike action 85,100. Remember that when they come at unions about democracy in the coming days."
And @oliver_twiste commented: "I can’t emphasis enough how extreme the Conservative party membership has become to ‘ordinary’ conservatives, now homeless. I don’t recognise this party, the weird people in it and what they stand for. They are clowns of previous generations. Something is deeply broken".
Meanwhile, among the very few thoughts for Ms Truss' runner-up, @jmumma61 believed they had the answer as to why he hadn't won, simply tweeting: "No one will forgive Rishi for his betrayal of Boris."
Reaction from MPs from near and afar
And while the public may be feeling a little apprehensive about the future, MPs from near and far have all shared their support for the new leader, even if many of them believe that she faces a 'challenging' start to her leadership with an in-tray that none of them envy her for having. You can read their messages below:
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he is “delighted” that Liz Truss has been chosen to become the next prime minister. Emerging from the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster where the result of the Tory leadership competition was announced, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “Delighted Liz Truss has won.
“It’s very good news for the Conservative Party and for the country.”
He added: “I think she will be an excellent prime minister.”
Metro Mayor Dan Norris
Commenting on the election of Liz Truss as the next UK prime minister today Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The in-tray facing our new prime minister would challenge the most talented of governments. I think it’s very questionable we now have a talented government - instead we’re seeing a reshuffle of the same old tired and out of touch administration we’ve had since 2010, only this time the stakes couldn’t be higher.
"The challenges are huge: skyrocketing energy prices, the cost-of-living crisis, the climate and ecological emergency, the issues we’re seeing in the NHS and the war in Ukraine to name but a few. But I worry about the early signs, and it’s alarming Ms Truss thinks that tax cuts are the silver bullet.
"Is a tax cut to favour the wealthiest really the priority of our times? I think not. I believe those with the broadest shoulders should carry their fair share and that tax cuts, therefore, are not the best way forward for the West of England.
"After over a decade in power, the Tories are out of ideas, and only Labour can offer the fresh start the people of the West of England and the whole country deserve and, frankly, at this very tough time - need”.
Liam Fox
Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset, tweeted: "Congratulations to @trussliz on becoming leader of the @Conservatives Party. She faces the in-tray from hell. It is essential that we all pull together at this time of great national and international difficulties."
Tom Giffard
Welsh Conservative MP for South Wales West, Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism & Sport, Tom Giffard: "Now that the leadership race has concluded I would like to congratulate @trussliz on her victory today and look forward to working with her Government. Now is the time to come together, deliver for everyone across the UK and only then can we win back the trust of the British people. There are certainly difficult times ahead over the coming months so we need to make sure that no corner of our country is left behind. It is only when @Conservatives are united and work together do we see the difference we can make.
Carla Denyer
Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party: "Liz #Truss being selected as Prime Minister by such a small and unrepresentative group of people is a disaster for the UK, and the climate. Her plans to encourage more North Sea oil & gas does nothing to help households this winter. But it will absolutely fuel the climate crisis".
To which Twitter user @planetf1 shared a similar sentiment, writing: "I hope the critically important work on addressing #climatechange continues."
Neil Hudson
@DrNeilHudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said: "Congratulations @trussliz on becoming @Conservatives Leader & our next PM. The party and our country under her leadership can tackle the huge issues facing us, from the cost of living & energy crises, to delivering public services, to food security & helping those most in need."
Read next:
- Geronimo the alpaca's owner still fighting for answers one year after his death
- Bristol reacts as Boris Johnson resigns as Prime Minister
- Queen will meet Boris Johnson next week before welcoming in new PM
- Strikes involving thousands could take place in coming months, says Unite union
- Bus passengers in England to save money with £2 fare cap
