Update: Liz Truss has been chosen as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Age: 47
Current parliamentary roles: Foreign Secretary, Minister for Women and Equalities, Member for South West Norfolk.
Former parliamentary roles: Secretary of State for International Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Justice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
Before parliament: From 1996-2000 Truss worked as an accountant for Shell. She went on to become the economic director of telecommunications company Cable & Wireless. Truss then became Deputy Director of conservative think tank Reform.
Stance on Brexit: Truss was a staunch supporter of remaining in the European Union. However, during the recent leadership campaign she has changed her tune:
“I was wrong and I am prepared to admit I was wrong. Some of the portents of doom didn't happen and instead we have actually unleashed new opportunities"
This is likely due to the strong support of Brexit amongst the Conservative party base.
Biography: Born in Oxford, Truss spent her childhood living in Scotland, Canada, and England. She graduated from the University of Oxford in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. While at university, she was president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats, advocating for the legalisation of cannabis and the abolition of the monarchy. She joined the Conservative Party soon after graduating. Truss is married to Hugh O’Leary, they have two children. Truss entered parliament in 2010.
Other facts: Truss describes her parents as “left of Labor”, her father refused to campaign for her when she first ran for Parliament. Truss is a close personal friend of former Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom George Brandis, with Brandis taking Truss to the mid-winter ball in 2019.
Age: 42
Current parliamentary roles: Member for Richmond (Yorks).
Former parliamentary roles: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Before parliament: Sunak started his career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst between 2001 and 2004. He went on to work as a partner at the Children’s Investment Fund Management. He then helped found hedge fund Theleme Partners. Sunak entered parliament in 2015.
Stance on Brexit: Sunak campaigned to leave the European Union. He continues to support Brexit.
Biography: Sunak was born in Southampton to a GP father and pharmacist mother. His father was born and raised in Kenya, his mother Tanzania, both having migrated from India. Sunak was head boy of Winchester College and went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. He then gained an MBA from Stanford University on a Fulbright scholarship. Sunak is married to Akshata Murty and they have two children.
Other facts:
Sunak’s father-in-law is Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Indian IT business Infosys. Sunak is the wealthiest member of the House of Commons and the 222nd wealthiest person in the United Kingdom.
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