LIVE: Liz Truss outlines early priorities as Prime Minister | Boris Johnson no longer PM | Nicola Sturgeon to announce Scotland's Programme for Government
Boris Johnson pledged his “fervent support” for successor Liz Truss as she prepared to take over as prime minister and deliver a plan to address the energy crisis.
Ms Truss, who travelled to Balmoral to accept the role of prime minister from the Queen, is thought to be drawing up plans for a freeze in bills which could cost around £100 billion.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has announced the programme for government for the coming year at Holyrood later this afternoon.
To stay up to date with all the latest on these issues, follow along here on The Scotsman’s live blog.
LIVE: Liz Truss to become Prime Minister as Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street | Truss to travel to Balmoral to visit Queen
Key Events
- Liz Truss outlines “three early priorities” as she arrives at Downing Street
- Nicola Sturgeon announced Programme for Government including rent freeze and expansion of free school meal plan
- Boris Johnson no longer PM as Buckingham palace confirms Queen accepts his resignation
Scottish Child Payment
There will be an increase in the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per week, the FM has confirmed.
'Emergency legislation’ on rent freeze
Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government will take ‘temporary measures’ through emergency legislation to ensure people’s rents do not rise until at least March 2023.
Rents will be frozen from today onwards, according to FM. The emergency legislation will also include a moratorium on evictions.
She said she did not have the power to freeze energy prices but was taking measures to give people security they needed through the winter.
ScotRail fares frozen till March 2023
The FM has said ScotRail train fares will be frozen till ‘at least’ March 2023.
FM congratulates Liz Truss as new PM
Nicola Sturgeon said she congratulates the new PM’s appointment and said despite significant political differences, she will find a way to work together.
Sturgeon confirms she has written to new PM requesting an emergency 4 nations summit on the cost of living crisis.
Nicola Sturgeon gives statement on programme for government
The FM said this programme will focus on ‘the most severe’ cost of living crisis pushing ‘millions into poverty’.
Liz Truss is officially new PM
The Queen has officially appointed Liz Truss as her 15th Prime Minister.
Truss has now left Balmoral after becoming the first Prime Minister of the Queen’s reign to be appointed by the monarch at her private Scottish home of Balmoral.
Boris Johnson no longer UK PM
Boris Johnson has left Balmoral after being formally dismissed from his role as PM by the Queen.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Queen has accepted his resignation.
This means Johnson is no longer the UK Prime Minister.
‘Liz Truss has no mandate in Scotland’, according to SNP
SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson have no mandate in Scotland. His comment comes as Truss won slightly less than 50% support of Tory members to claim the PM appoinment.
Gibson said: “Liz Truss has no mandate to govern in Scotland.
“She visits Scotland today to be installed as UK Prime Minister – but Scotland hasn’t voted Tory for almost 70 years yet is repeatedly left to thole their ‘leadership’ and have our voice ignored at every turn.
“The ridiculous charade of the handover from Johnson to Truss comes as the Tories continue to show their utter contempt for democracy by trying to block the people of Scotland having a say on their future.
“And the suggestion that Liz Truss would now consider trying to gerrymander a referendum by rigging the rules in a way that would make even Donald Trump blush only further exposes that contempt.
“The arrival of Liz Truss as PM shows that it is more vital than ever that Scots have the choice of a better future as an independent country.”
SNP's Ian Blackford calls for snap election as new PM appointed
A general election should be held sooner rather than later after Liz Truss enters Downing Street, according to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
Prime Minister Liz Truss: SNP's Ian Blackford calls for snap election as new PM appointed
A general election should be held sooner rather than later after Liz Truss enters Downing Street, according to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
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