Now that new Conservative Party leader Liz Truss has taken office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, she will have to hit the ground running as she faces the greatest cost of living crisis in decades and the UK hurtles towards another Winter of Discontent.
Commentators argue that Truss should forget about the usual ”first 100 days” in office and rather enjoy her first 48 hours as they will probably be the happiest and best of her premiership before the real work gets underway.
Truss will have to deal with spiralling energy costs, gas shortages, rising interest rates and inflation, all while trying to unite a deeply divided Tory party and appealing to the broader electorate to show that she is different from her predecessor Boris Johnson.
Former UK treasury minister, Jim O’Neill writes that Truss will be judged on an extremely short-term basis and she has little time to make a mark on the electorate with the next election looming in 2024 (or sooner).
O’Neill writes that Truss’ biggest advantage is her adaptability, which she will need if she is to succeed and bring forth the interests of those that don’t necessarily share her politics.
Former South African opposition leader, Tony Leon comments on the similarities between the Tory government and the ANC government both of whom have been in power over many years with both facing a tough election in 2024 where the electorate will hope to oust them from power.
Leon also notes the stark differences between both parties’ approaches to governance, and gender and ethnic diversity.
And The Citizen writes in its editorial that Truss’ previous public gaffes and comments on so-called scandals or issues with government look completely trivial compared with South African cabinet ministers.
The editorial illustrates its opinion by making an example of the pool at former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead. Cabinet ministers were seen to be staunchly defending the egregious use of public funds on upgrades at the former president’s home and in particular the pool as a vital firefighting device.
Truss once commented that barking dogs at prisons would help to deter drones from dropping drugs.
Image Credit: UK Government
