A Conservative politician who grew up in Paisley is one step closer to becoming the UK’s Prime Minister after making it through to the final two of the party’s leadership contest.
Liz Truss MP, who launched her leadership bid last week with a nod to her Paisley roots, is up against former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the running to replace Boris Johnson.
She received 113 votes from fellow Conservative MPs, knocking the previous second-placed Penny Mordaunt into third place with her 105. Mr Sunak received 137 votes.
Tory MPs have been voting on who they want to lead the party – and therefore the country – and it’s now down to the party membership who’ll vote for their favourite over the summer.
The winner will be announced on September 5 and will take over from Boris Johnson as PM the following day.
Officially launching her Conservative Party leadership Ms Truss, who attended West Primary School in the town, said: “I got to where I am today through hard work and aspiration.
“I did not come from a traditional Conservative background, I grew up in Paisley, and I went to a comprehensive school in Leeds.
“Many of the children I was at school with were let down by low expectations, poor educational standards and a lack of opportunity. Too much talent went to waste.
“I didn’t believe, and I don’t believe that it has to be that way and that’s why I went into politics.”
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Writing in the Scotsman in 2018, Ms Truss expanded on her time in Paisley and said that she once played the role of Margaret Thatcher in West Primary’s recreation of the 1983 general election.
She wrote: “I jumped at the chance, and gave a heartfelt speech at the hustings, but ended up with zero votes.
“I didn’t even vote for myself, even at that age, we knew it was simply unpopular to be a Tory in the west of Scotland.”
The MP for South West Norfolk, who is the current Foreign Secretary, is currently the bookies favourite to become the next PM.
Boris Johnson stepped down earlier this month after a record 50 resignations from his government amid mounting furore over his leadership.
A General Election is widely rumoured to be scheduled for 2024.
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