Tory leadership result LIVE: Liz Truss announced as UK’s new Prime Minister

standard.co.uk: Liz Truss will become the next Prime Minister after beating Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership contest.

Ms Truss, 47, triumphed over the former Chancellor following a gruelling two-month campaign. The Foreign Secretary won the backing of 81,326 Tory members, compared with 60,399 for Mr Sunak.

In a speech after the announcement, Ms Truss promised a “bold plan” to cut taxes and grow the economy and “deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people’s energy bills but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply”.

She is expected to finalise her choices for the Cabinet and other ministerial roles before being formally appointed by the Queen at Balmoral on Tuesday.

Her victory comes as the UK faces an economic crisis this winter, with household energy bills set to rise to £3,549 from October and inflation poised to exceed 18 per cent next year, according to Citigroup.

Ms Truss is strongly considering freezing energy bills to ease the burden on households this winter, according to reports.

However, she has remained tight-lipped about what kind of support package she might introduce.

The Times reports the package could be on the scale of the furlough scheme introduced by Mr Sunak when the Covidpandemic struck, while The Telegraph suggests the specifics of such a policy are still being debated.

Nicola Sturgeon: ‘Our political differences are deep'

13:05 , Miriam Burrell

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she “will seek to build a good working relationship” with Liz Truss despite the leaders having “deep” political differences.

Pictured: Liz Truss reacts to win

13:02 , Miriam Burrell

Liz Truss with her husband Hugh O’Leary, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, as it was announced that she is the new Conservative party leader, and will become the next prime minister.

(PA)

How Truss’s win compares to previous Tory leaders

12:59 , Miriam Burrell

(Press Association Images)

Contest was closest leadership race ever

12:56 , Daniel Keane

Mr Sunak appears to have defied pollsters predicting a landslide win for Liz Truss.

With 57.4 per cent of the vote going to Ms Truss, the race was the tighest leadership contest in Tory history.

Ms Truss is the first leader to be elected with less than 60 per cent of her party’s support - a worrying sign for the incoming PM.

Watch: Liz Truss announced as UK’s new Prime Minister

12:51 , Daniel Keane

Davey calls for snap election

12:47 , Daniel Keane

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a general election in the wake of Liz Truss' victory in the Conservative leadership contest.

"Under Liz Truss, we're set to see more of the same crisis and chaos as under Boris Johnson. From the cost of living emergency to the NHS crisis, the Conservatives have shown they don't care, and have no plan," Sir Ed tweeted.

"It's time to scrap the energy price hike then call a general election."

Starmer congratulates Truss

12:45 , Daniel Keane

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "I'd like to congratulate our next prime minister Liz Truss as she prepares for office.

"But after 12 years of the Tories all we have to show for it is low wages, high prices, and a Tory cost-of-living crisis.

"Only Labour can deliver the fresh start our country needs."

Truss vows to ‘govern as a Conservative’

12:43 , Daniel Keane

She added: “During this campaign I campaigned as a Conservative and I will govern as a Conservative.

“We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy.”

Truss thanks family & friends for enduring ‘longest job interview in history’

12:41 , Daniel Keane

Ms Truss thanked her family, friends and colleagues for enduring the “longest job interview in history”.

She said: “I want to thank our outgoing leader and my friend Boris Johnson.

“You got Brexit done, you crushed Jeremy Corbyn and rolled out the vaccine.

“I know that our beliefs resonate with the British people - our beliefs in freedom, low taxes and personal responsibility.”

Truss wins with over 80,000 votes

12:39 , Daniel Keane

Ms Truss received 81,326 votes, while Mr Sunak received 60,399 votes.

Liz Truss wins Tory leadership contest

12:38 , Daniel Keane

Liz Truss has triumphed in the Tory leadership contest and will become the UK’s next Prime Minister, Sir Graham Brady has announced.

Sir Graham Brady takes to lectern

12:36 , Daniel Keane

We are expecting a result imminently as Sir Graham Brady has taken to the lectern.

I would accept Foreign Secretary role, says Cleverly

12:23 , Daniel Keane

James Cleverly has suggested he would accept the foreign secretary job in a Cabinet run by Liz Truss if it was offered to him.

He told the PA news agency: “Rishi’s (Sunak) a smart guy, really good campaigner. It would be ridiculous ever to take a result for granted.

“But I think Liz has put in a fantastic campaign, and I think she’s done enough to win.”

Put to him that he is tipped for foreign secretary if Ms Truss is successful, he said: “Let’s get one thing (done) at a time.”

Asked if he would accept the job if offered it, he asked: “Who wouldn’t accept it?”

Pictured: Truss arrives at Queen Elizabeth centre

12:14 , Daniel Keane

(REUTERS)

Man detained outside Queen Elizabeth Centre in Westminster

12:09 , Daniel Keane

A man has been detained by police outside the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, central London, where the announcement of who will become Tory Party leader and the next prime minister is due to take place at 12:30.

The man, who is a protester with the campaign group Animal Rebellion, has been handcuffed, carried off the road and frisked by officers.

Four others are sitting in the road opposite Westminster Abbey, holding a sign reading: "Planet-based future" and chanting: "Protect out planet, respect our future" while officers try to speak to them.

A fifth protester, Joel Scott-Halkes, 30, from Cornwall told the PA news agency: "We are going to continue disrupting the diary industry for as long as it takes until there are supermarkets shortages.

"We are going to do this until the Government and the new prime minister meets our demands," he added, saying these include ensuring the transition to plant-based farming and rewinding the land that that frees up."

MPs arrive at Queen Elizabeth Centre for result

11:59 , Daniel Keane

The first MPs have begun arriving at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster where the next Prime Minister is due to be announced at 12.30pm.

Tory MP and former Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden arrived around 50 minutes ahead of the announcement.

Penny Mordaunt, an earlier contender in the Conservative Party leadership competition, arrived shortly afterwards.

Neither responded to the large media scrum assembled outside.

Incoming PM ‘must freeze energy bills’, says Starmer

11:55 , Daniel Keane

The incoming Prime Minister must freeze energy bills to avoid an economic crisis, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.

Speaking to journalists at Friern Barnet School in north London, Sir Keir responded to reports that candidate Liz Truss would implement a freeze on bills for the poorest homes as part of her new economic policy.

He said: "We need to freeze energy bills, that's why Labour set that out very, very clearly, weeks ago now.

"So I want to see that happen. It's very important that it's very clear who pays for this, we've been clear that oil and gas companies who've made excess profits this year should have a windfall tax, which would then pay for the energy freeze.

"So yes, we want an energy freeze. It's vital for families and households across the country. I want to see that happen. There's no justification for an incoming prime minister not doing it, because the political will is there across the political parties."

No10: No fixed time for Boris Johnson’s resignation honours

11:42 , Daniel Keane

There is "no fixed time" for the announcement of Boris Johnson's resignation honours, Downing Street has said.

The outgoing Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "It will be a matter for the new Government essentially on the timings, but there's no fixed time for them at the moment."

Starmer visits school ahead of leadership result

11:22 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson are visiting a school in north London ahead of the new leader of the Conservative Party being unveiled.

Sir Keir and Ms Phillipson met with two year 11 pupils, Aaayushi and Nayra, from the school's student Parliament ahead of a question-and-answer session with their classmates.

Sir Keir asked Aaayushi how she felt to be involved in the student Parliament.

She told him: "Yeah, it's really nice."

He replied: "We need to get you into Number 10, you'll probably do a better job than whoever's coming in at lunchtime today", before chuckling.

UK ‘treading water’ during leadership contest, says former chancellor

10:59 , Daniel Keane

Tory former Chancellor Philip Hammond has said the UK has been “treading water” during the leadership contest.

He told Times Radio that “everybody will be relieved” when the new PM is announced at 12.30pm.

Mr Hammond added that the country has been “treading water” during a “difficult period” while the contest has taken place.

Boris Johnson will be ‘thorn in side’ of successor, say ex-staffers

10:41 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson will be a “thorn in the side” of his successor, his closest allies have suggested.

Mr Johnson, who will be replaced as Conservative leader on Monday and will step down as Prime Minister on Tuesday, is tipped to make a return to journalism after leaving office.

He is also expected to be a regular on the lucrative after-dinner speaking circuit, a well-worn route for ex-Prime Ministers.

Former staffers on Monday ruled out him attempting to making a comeback to frontline politics, but said he still has fans in the party who may push for him to return to No10.

Read our full story here.

Incoming Chancellor promises ‘lean state’

10:28 , Daniel Keane

Kwasi Kwarteng, who is widely tipped to become the next Chancellor in a Liz Truss cabinet, has promised to run a “lean state” if he takes the reins in the Treasury.

He wrote in the Financial Times: “As prime minister, Liz will take immediate action if elected that will help people with the challenges we face in the coming months, and lay the groundwork for the change we need in the long term.”

Mr Kwarteng said this would mean “putting money back in people's pockets" and "unshackling our businesses from burdensome taxes and unsuitable regulations”.

Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaves his house in London ahead of leadership result

10:11 , Daniel Keane

(PA)

Pound slumps to lowest level in over 30 years

09:59 , Daniel Keane

The pound has fallen to its lowest level in over three decades.

Sterling fell to 0.3 per cent to $1.1475 - just hours before the new Prime Minister is announced.

It is the lowest exchange rate for the pound and the dollar since 1985.

Watch: Daily politics briefing: September 5

09:42 , Daniel Keane

Ireland’s foreign affairs minister says new PM must improve relations

09:23 , Daniel Keane

Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said he hopes “the direction of travel” between British-Irish relations can be changed under a new Prime Minister.

Speaking on RTE Morning Ireland, Mr Coveney said that everyone in Dublin has been discussing “what a Liz Truss premiership would look like”

“Whether the strident way in which she has brought forward the Northern Ireland Protocol legislation in the UK, which, of course, has created a lot of tension and undermined trust, whether that will continue to be her strategy as prime minister or not.”

Mr Coveney described Ms Truss as a “talented, very energetic politician”.

Pictured: Boris Johnson arrives for last day as PM

09:10 , Daniel Keane

(REUTERS)

New PM faces ‘chaotic day’, says Cabinet Secretary

09:03 , Daniel Keane

Lord O'Donnell, who was cabinet secretary when David Cameron took over from Gordon Brown, said the new prime minister's first hours in office will be "the highlight of their career" but "a bit of a chaotic day".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is an incredibly exciting day for that person coming through the door at No 10, it's the highlight of their career and that may be the biggest moment in their lives".

He said the new premier receives the nuclear codes, "quite scary" security and intelligence briefings, and phone calls from world leaders and people "claiming to be your mum or your dad", as they also get on with appointing their Cabinet and consider policy issues.

Future leadership contests must be shorter, says Tory MP

08:48 , Daniel Keane

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has said future leadership contests should be shorter.

"Now as a result of how we see it's gone, we will need to rethink if and when it should happen again," the treasurer of the 1922 Committee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I would shorten the process of members in the country.

"There was no reason why it couldn't have been shortened. We could have had more than one hustings a day.

"I think it's just been too long."

Conservatives ‘must support whatever economic plan the PM puts forward’, says MP

08:32 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MPs should support whatever plan the incoming Prime Minister announces to ease the cost of living crisis, a senior Tory MP has said.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told BBC Radio 4 that he hoped party colleagues would recognise the “very serious situation we’re in”.

"We are going to have a general election within two years and I think what the public want to see is a government delivering on their behalf in every respect, and above all, having a plan to deal with this very serious situation,” he added.

"And I would hope that all my colleagues when Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, whichever of the two of them it is, announces a plan, that they will get behind it and support it."

Truss’s tax cutting plans could fuel inflation, think tank boss warns

08:20 , Daniel Keane

Liz Truss's plans to cut taxes to boost growth will further fuel inflation, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, has warned.

"She's clearly absolutely right that we've had dreadful growth over the last 15 years," the senior economist told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"The but is that simply cutting taxes, cutting National Insurance contributions, for example, is not a strategy for growth.

"And it is clearly pumping a large amount of money into the economy on top of the £30 billion we've already had to support energy bills, on top of the presumably many, many 10s of billions additional that are going to come from that, and on top of what's going to have to be more money for public services.

"Now put all of that together and that will lead to not just extremely high borrowing in the short run, but also additional inflationary pressure".

Tory leadership race: The journey

07:45 , Miriam Burrell

Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister on July 7 under enormous politcal pressure as a wave of his ministers resigned.

Eight candidates to replace him were nominated for the first round of voting - Liz Truss, Jeremy Hunt, Nadhim Zahawi, Suella Braverman, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt.

By July 20 only two were left - Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

The pair travelled across the UK to try and win Tory member votes, taking part in 12 hustings and a number of televised debates.

The ballot closed at 5pm on September 2, with the result to be announced on Monday afternoon.

While Mr Sunak was the initial favourite, Ms Truss has come out on top in the final polls and is tipped to win the race.

When will the new prime minister be announced?

07:29 , Miriam Burrell

Either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will be announced as Britain’s new prime minister at 12.30pm BST on Monday.

The announcement will be made by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, near the Houses of Parliament.

The new leader is expected to make a speech but the public won’t hear from the loser.

On Tuesday morning Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement outside Downing Street before travelling to Scotland to tender his resignation to the Queen.

His successor will also travel to Balmoral Castle to be appointed by the Queen on Tuesday, before making their first speech as prime minister that afternoon.

The new prime minister will then appoint a cabinet.