Truss: I am determined to deliver

Prime Minister Liz Truss’s statement on the steps of Downing Street:

Good afternoon,

I have just accepted Her Majesty The Queen’s kind invitation to form a new government. 

Let me pay tribute to my predecessor.

Boris Johnson delivered Brexit, the Covid vaccine, and stood up to Russian aggression.

History will see him as a hugely consequential Prime Minister.

I’m honoured to take on this responsibility at a vital time for our country.

What makes the United Kingdom great is our fundamental belief in freedom, in enterprise, and in fair play.

Our people have shown grit, courage and determination time and time again.

We now face severe global headwinds caused by Russia’s appalling war in Ukraine and the aftermath of Covid.

Now is the time to tackle the issues that are holding Britain back.

We need to build roads, homes and broadband faster.

We need more investment and great jobs in every town and city across our country.

We need to reduce the burden on families and help people get on in life.

I know that we have what it takes to tackle those challenges.

Of course, it won’t be easy. But we can do it.

We will transform Britain into an aspiration nation…with high-paying jobs, safe streets and where everyone everywhere has the opportunities they deserve.

I will take action this day, and action every day, to make it happen.

United with our allies, we will stand up for freedom and democracy around the world – recognising that we can’t have security at home without having security abroad.

As Prime Minister, I will pursue three early priorities.

Firstly, I will get Britain working again.

I have a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform.

I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investment.

I will drive reform in my mission to get the United Kingdom working, building, and growing.

We will get spades in the ground to make sure people are not facing unaffordable energy bills and we will also make sure, that we are building hospitals, schools, roads, and broadband.

Secondly, I will deal hands-on with the energy crisis caused by Putin’s war.

I will take action this week to deal with energy bills and to secure our future energy supply.

Thirdly, I will make sure that people can get doctors’ appointments and the NHS services they need. We will put our health service on a firm footing.

By delivering on the economy, on energy, and on the NHS, we will put our nation on the path to long-term success.

We shouldn’t be daunted by the challenges we face.

As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger.

Our country was built by people who get things done.

We have huge reserves of talent, of energy, and determination.

I am confident that together we can:

Ride out the storm,

We can rebuild our economy,

And we can become the modern brilliant Britain that I know we can be.

This is our vital mission to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations. I am determined to deliver. Thank you.

CABINET APPOINTMENTS:

• The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
• The Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. She will also be Deputy Prime Minister (below).
• The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP as Chancellor of the Exchequer
• The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
• The Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP as Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Wendy Morton MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). She will attend Cabinet
• The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Defence
• The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP as Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
• The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and Minister for Equalities
• The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP as Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons
• Lord True CBE as Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
• The Rt Hon Jake Berry MP as Minister without Portfolio
• The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP has been re-appointed as COP26 President
• The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• The Rt Hon Simon Clarke MP as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Kemi Badenoch MP as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
• Chloe Smith MP as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
• The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP as Secretary of State for Education
• Ranil Jayawardena MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP as Secretary of State for Transport
• The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
• The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Scotland
• The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE QC MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Wales
• Chris Philp MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He will attend Cabinet
• Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP as Attorney General. He will attend Cabinet
• Edward Argar MP as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He will attend Cabinet
• Vicky Ford MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She will attend Cabinet
• Tom Tugendhat MBE MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Security) in the Home Department. He will attend Cabinet
• James Heappey MP has been re-appointed as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence. He will be Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans and will attend Cabinet.
• Graham Stuart MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Climate) in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He will attend Cabinet.