The Indian Panorama

Tag: Liz Truss

  • Indian-origin Suella Braverman brought back as British Home Secretary

    Indian-origin Suella Braverman brought back as British Home Secretary

    LONDON (TIP): British PM Rishi Sunak on Tuesday, October 25,  began putting his top team in place with key Cabinet appointments and decided to keep the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in place for economic stability and brought back Indian-origin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

    In another move aimed at continuity, James Cleverly will stay in his post as Foreign Secretary despite not being a Sunak loyalist. Braverman, whose scathing resignation letter precipitated Liz Truss’ exit from Downing Street last week, is a fellow Brexiteer like Sunak. It remains to be seen how her tough stance on immigration will square off in the new Cabinet after her remarks about Indian visa overstayers caused much damage to the ongoing India-UK FTA talks. Kemi Badenoch staying on in her role as Trade Secretary could provide some stability to the ongoing FTA negotiations. Hunt, who was parachuted in earlier this month by former PM Liz Truss and went on to reverse her tax-cutting mini-budget, has been an ally of Sunak and it was widely expected that he would keep his job. Another close ally, Dominic Raab, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary in the Boris Johnson-led Cabinet, returns to the twin posts under Sunak. Raab, who had been the chief cheerleader for Sunak during his latest run for Tory leadership, was widely tipped for a Cabinet return. Ben Wallace stays in post as Defense Secretary and Nadhim Zahawi is appointed Tory party chairman and minister without portfolio. Braverman’s successor at the UK Home Office, Grant Shapps, is now the new Business Secretary. Former leadership rival, Penny Mordaunt, stays in her role as Leader of the Commons and Truss loyalist Therese Coffey moves from the health department to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  • Liz Truss takes over as British Prime Minister; to focus on economy, energy and healthcare

    Liz Truss takes over as British Prime Minister; to focus on economy, energy and healthcare

    • Inducts 2 Indian-origin ministers in her Cabinet

    LONDON (TIP): In her maiden speech as PM, Liz Truss said that she was  honored to take on the responsibility at a vital time for the country. Former U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who was declared the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest on Monday, September 5,  defeating  former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Tuesday, September  by  Queen Elizabeth II.

    The new Prime Minister said she would focus on three priorities: the economy, the energy crisis facing the country and improving the National Health Service (NSH).

    Ms Truss  faces enormous economic challenges domestically — starting with combatting burgeoning energy prices and a cost of living crisis. She also faces political challenges, such as resolving a messy consequence of Brexit involving Northern Ireland’s customs borders. She will also have to navigate another call for Scottish independence. Ms. Truss had vehemently opposed a call for a second referendum. Speaking outside Downing Street after her arrival from Scotland, where she was appointed by the Queen, the new prime minister said she would transform Britain into an “aspiration nation”, cutting taxes and pushing reforms to grow the economy.

    “I will deal hands-on with the energy crisis caused by Putin’s war,” Ms. Truss said, having promised over the weekend that she would announce a plan within a week of assuming office to tackle short-term energy price challenges and longer-term supply issues. The Financial Times reported that she was working on a GBP 100 billion plan to protect households and businesses from soaring energy bills this winter.  She will also attempt to unite her party while putting together a cabinet to deliver her program. For the first time in history, the ‘four great offices of state’ — the posts of Prime Minister, Chancellor, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary are likely to be held by people who are not white males, as widely noted by the British press.

    U.S. President Joe Biden called  Liz Truss to  congratulate her on becoming Britain’s new PM. Prime Minister Liz Truss held her first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday, September 7,  after announcing one of the UK’s most diverse Cabinets, with key frontline posts going to ethnic minority members of Parliament, including Indian-origin Suella Braverman as the Home Secretary. Another Indian-origin minister in the Cabinet, Agra-born Alok Sharma, retains his climate action job as the COP26 President, as does Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in a new top team that is otherwise a complete shake-up of the old guard.

    London-born junior minister Ranil Jayawardena, of mixed Sri Lankan and Indian heritage, has been promoted as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    Many senior Tories, who had backed Truss’ rival, British Indian former finance minister Rishi Sunak, find themselves without a job — including former justice secretary Dominic Raab, transport secretary Grant Shapps and health secretary Steve Barclay.

    (With inputs from PTI and other agencies)