Liz Truss appointed as the new UK prime Minister

Liz Truss has been appointed as the new United Kingdom Prime Minister after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership contest.

It was a closer result than many pundits expected, with Truss taking 57% of valid votes cast.

Speaking at a conference centre in Westminster, she thanked Sunak for a “hard-fought campaign” and pledged to deliver a “bold plan”.

Truss will become prime minister on Tuesday after travelling to meet the Queen at Balmoral in Scotland.

The current foreign secretary is under immediate pressure to announce a plan to tackle soaring energy costs.

She is understood to be considering a freeze on energy bills, with an announcement potentially scheduled for Thursday.

Labour’s Keir Starmer has congratulated her but says the country is facing a “Tory cost of living crisis”.