The policies of new UK leader, Liz Truss

Liz Truss has crossed first at the finish line and is the United Kingdom’s newest Prime Minister – replacing Boris Johnson. Today, she is set to fly 500 miles to Balmoral, where she will be handed the keys to Number 10 Downing Street by the Queen, before launching her premiership with a promise to slash household bills. And while she has not yet provided a specific plan on how she will tackle high energy prices, eyes will be watching her every move as she takes over a nation struggling with sky-high inflation, labour conflicts and a strained healthcare system.

The UK has been left captain-less for weeks. It has been left on its own to endure bouts of workers’ strikes that disrupted various avenues of transportation, bringing in an economic crisis that has not hit the country for decades! So what exactly are Liz Truss’s policies in healing the burn wounds left in the UK?

As Prime Minister, I will unleash Britain’s potential by going for growth and removing the obstacles holding our country back.

A growing economy is a key to delivering for the British people and unlocking opportunities.

My piece in @Telegraph 👇https://t.co/agfTaq78R5 pic.twitter.com/3AUkw6aqZ5

— Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 4, 2022

Labour rights

There is pressure to quickly resolve ongoing strikes and worker walkouts, with the threat of further protest action in other sectors occurring.
Unions call for Truss to reveal her true plans for workers’ rights – it was reported that she was considering a post-Brexit restructuring of employment laws.
The 48-hour work week will be revised as part of the adopted working time directive by the European Union.

Public transport & healthcare

Truss has dismissed claims that the National Health Service (NHS) is struggling due to a lack of funding, rather a lack of local-decision making is the issue.
Although the NHS faces its biggest crisis yet, Truss plans to divert £13bn designated for the NHS to help it catch up on delayed treatment after Covid-19 on social care.
It was proposed that new laws be implemented, to make going on strike more difficult – Truss added that the new laws will guarantee a constant, minimum level of service.
This change could see a limit on the number of strikes the union can carry out, or increase the already stringent threshold for a strike.

Energy action plan

UK households are battling high energy bills amidst the war in Ukraine.
Truss has vowed against energy rationing, instead, promising to increase the supply.
British officials argue that should energy rationing not take place – the country will be plunged into darkness for days – which will be further exacerbated by gas shortages and the cold weather.
Truss also eliminated a further windfall tax on oil and gas companies, to pay for the cost of living support for struggling families.

Oil and gas

It is believed that Truss’s advisers are discussing proposals to issue a 130 new drilling licences – which usually takes 30 years to produce gas or oil.
This decision, have been greatly criticised by environmental activists as playing into the pocket of fossil fuel giants, further worsening the climate crisis.
Truss announced that she will approve additional oil drilling in the North Sea.

truss

Taxes

Economists say that Truss’s plans wil worsen the already-high inflation rate, forcing the Bank of England to raise interest rates even faster.
Liz Truss pledged to cut taxes at a £38bn annual cost – with some economists saying it could cost more than £50bn a year.
These changes have however been regarded as useless in addressing the real reasons for the country’s declining productivity – which is linked to a lack of investment in infrastructure and other forms of capital.
With no new taxes, Truss will need to rely heavily on extra government borrowing or cut spending in other departments to finance household support.

Immigration

Truss is set to increase the front-line border forces by 20% and double the forces’ staffing capacities.
She has shared intentions to expand the controversial Rwanda policy with more countries despite the plan failing to deport a single migrant – this policy aims to see asylum seekers deported from the UK to Rwanda.
In a different light, Truss said she would allow a short-term expansion of the seasonal agricultural scheme – this allows foreign workers to find summer agri-jobs in the UK.
Truss has promised to ensure that the European Convention on Human Rights works for the UK.

zahraa@smile904.fm