‘I was disappointed’ - Birmingham residents react to Liz Truss being named new PM

Residents in Birmingham have been reacting to the news that Liz Truss will become the next prime minister.

The Conservative party members have spoken, and a majority of them have voted for Liz Truss to replace Boris Johnson as their party leader and the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. Ms. Truss saw off the challenge of former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to become the new leader of the Conservatives.

She received 57.4%, 81,32, of the votes to Rishi Sunak’s 42.6%, which was 60,399. Ms. Truss becomes only the third female Prime Minister in UK history.

How did the people of Brum react to the news?

On the streets of Birmingham, people were reacting to the news Liz Truss will be the next prime minister.

Euan Healy said: “She’s going to be a disaster, 12 years of Tories, what have they done to this country.

“We’re in a cost-of-living crisis now, and they could have done something; dealt with the energy crisis for the last 12 years, dealt with the housing crisis for the last 12 years.They haven’t got any new ideas.

“Replace the leader all you want, it’s the same people. The same Tories all the time.”

Abubakar Razak, another Birmingham resident, said he “was hoping” Rishi Sunak lost the leadership contest.

“From what I had seen online about the other person (Rishi Sunak), I was kind of hoping he wasn’t going be the prime minister,” he added.

“Just little bits I’ve seen online, of what the message he was spreading, I didn’t quite agree with it.”

As for what he wanted Ms Truss to prioritise, he said: “The cost-of-living crisis: somehow make an impact and make it easier, because in the coming months with the cold and the electric and gas prices are going to increase, and the whole blackout thing.

“If she could somehow fix that, because it is inciting panic around England right now.

“Something about that would be lovely.”

‘I was disappointed with the result’

Spencer McAndrew, who lives in Sutton Coldfield – a Tory constituency – but was visiting Birmingham city centre on Monday, said: “I was disappointed when I heard the news.

“Straight away I just thought ‘female Boris’, and I’m not a fan of Boris.

“I think she’s tripped herself up, many times, really. But I’ve got to give her the benefit of the doubt. The Conservative Party have voted for us – let’s see how it goes.”

Birmingham resident Carol Lewis, who was enjoying the sunshine in Victoria Square, said: “It’s very small number of people who have chosen this woman.

“I don’t really see she’s got a real mandate to be honest. I don’t think her focus will be on helping ordinary people. I think there is a very strong streak through the Tory party where it’s looking after themselves and their own mates, and uncle Algernon who owns the water company and everything else.

“I think it’s very sad, I think they’ve become a party of a very small group of people who are out of touch.”

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