Liz Truss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Liz Truss
Official portrait, 2022
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 6 September 2022 – 25 October 2022
Monarch	Elizabeth II Charles III
Preceded by	Boris Johnson
Succeeded by	Rishi Sunak
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office 5 September 2022 – 24 October 2022
Preceded by	Boris Johnson
Succeeded by	Rishi Sunak
Ministerial offices 2012‍–‍2022 Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs In office 15 September 2021 – 6 September 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson Preceded by Dominic Raab Succeeded by James Cleverly Minister for Women and Equalities In office 10 September 2019 – 6 September 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson Preceded by Amber Rudd Succeeded by Nadhim Zahawi Secretary of State for International Trade President of the Board of Trade In office 24 July 2019 – 15 September 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson Preceded by Liam Fox Succeeded by Anne-Marie Trevelyan Chief Secretary to the Treasury In office 11 June 2017 – 24 July 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May Preceded by David Gauke Succeeded by Rishi Sunak Secretary of State for Justice Lord Chancellor In office 14 July 2016 – 11 June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May Preceded by Michael Gove Succeeded by David Lidington Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs In office 15 July 2014 – 14 July 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Owen Paterson Succeeded by Andrea Leadsom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Childcare and Education In office 4 September 2012 – 15 July 2014 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Sarah Teather Succeeded by Sam Gyimah
Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk
In office 6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024
Preceded by	Christopher Fraser
Succeeded by	Terry Jermy
Personal details
Born	Mary Elizabeth Truss (1975-07-26) 26 July 1975 (age 49) Oxford, England
Political party	Conservative (since 1996)
Other political affiliations	Liberal Democrats (until 1996)
Spouse	Hugh O'Leary ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	2
Parent	John Truss (father)
Education	Merton College, Oxford (BA)
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Elizabeth Mary Truss (born 26 July 1975), known as Liz Truss, is a British politician. She was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party. She held these roles from 5 September 2022 to 24 October 2022.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Truss was the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. She served in this role from September 2021 to September 2022. She was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk since 2010.

Truss also held other important government jobs. These included Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2017–2019), Secretary of State for Justice (2016–2017), and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2014–2016).

In July 2022, she ran to become the leader of the Conservative Party. She won the election on 5 September 2022. However, she resigned as Prime Minister on 20 October 2022. This was after many people criticized her leadership and economic plans. She was the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.

Early Life and Education

A large building with spires and a tower pictured from a green lawn with a blue sky. This is Merton College, Oxford, where Truss studied.

Mary Elizabeth Truss was born on 26 July 1975 in Oxford, England. Her parents were John and Priscilla Truss. She was known by her middle name, Elizabeth, from a young age.

Her family moved to Paisley, Scotland, when she was four. Later, they moved to Leeds, England. When she was 12, her family lived in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, for a year.

Truss went to Oxford University. She studied philosophy, politics, and economics. She graduated in 1996. While at university, she was involved with the Liberal Democrats political party. She later joined the Conservative Party in 1996.

Political Journey

Truss became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 2010 general election. She represented the area of South West Norfolk.

In 2012, she was appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education. This role focused on childcare and education.

In July 2014, Truss became the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She stated that she believed climate change was happening and that humans had contributed to it.

She was appointed Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor in July 2016. She was the first woman to hold either of these important positions.

When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, Truss was given important roles. She became the Secretary of State for International Trade. She was also made Minister for Women and Equalities.

In September 2021, she was promoted to Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. She was the second woman to hold this position.

Running for Conservative Party Leader

On 10 July 2022, Liz Truss announced she wanted to become the leader of the Conservative Party. This election was held to replace Boris Johnson.

Truss and Rishi Sunak were the two final candidates chosen by Conservative Party MPs. On 5 September 2022, Truss won the election. She received more votes than Sunak.

Becoming Prime Minister

Truss announcing her resignation as prime minister on 20 October 2022.

On 6 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II officially appointed Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

Just two days later, Queen Elizabeth II died. This meant Truss was the first British Prime Minister to serve under Charles III.

As Prime Minister, Truss chose her main team of ministers. Thérèse Coffey became her Deputy Prime Minister. Kwasi Kwarteng became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who manages the country's money. James Cleverly became the Foreign Secretary, and Suella Braverman became the Home Secretary.

Economic Policies and Resignation

Early in her time as Prime Minister, Truss faced criticism for her economic plans. She wanted to cut taxes and reduce government rules. These plans were sometimes called "Trussonomics."

Her policies caused the value of the pound (British money) to fall. It also made it more expensive for the government to borrow money. Many people, including other politicians and economic experts, criticized these plans.

Because of the strong criticism, she changed her plans and replaced her Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, with Jeremy Hunt.

However, the criticism continued. On 20 October 2022, Liz Truss announced she would resign as Prime Minister. She had been in office for only 45 days. This made her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.

She was replaced by Rishi Sunak on 25 October 2022. Polls showed that she was one of the least popular UK Prime Ministers ever.

After Being Prime Minister (2022–present)

Truss speaking at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference.

After leaving office, Liz Truss continued to be an MP for South West Norfolk. In February 2023, she was chosen again to be the Conservative candidate for her area.

She also announced that she would write a book about her time as Prime Minister. The book, called Ten Years to Save the West, was published in April 2024.

In February 2024, she helped start a new political group called Popular Conservatism. She spoke at its first event.

In the 2024 United Kingdom general election on 4 July, Truss lost her seat in Parliament. The new MP for South West Norfolk is Terry Jermy.

Personal Life

In 2000, Liz Truss married Hugh O'Leary, who is an accountant. They have two children together.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, 2014

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  Truss visiting Red Square the day prior to her 2022 meeting with Lavrov

See also

In Spanish: Liz Truss para niños