Borough gives reaction to Liz Truss appointment

Foreign secretary Ms Truss took over the top job on Tuesday after pipping former chancellor Rishi Sunak to top spot in the Tory leadership contest.

Shoppers in Rotherham town centre asked for their reaction said the policies she outlined during the campaign would not serve low income families well.

Gary Davidson (39), of Gilberthorpe Street, said: “I do not think Ms Truss has the strength, skills nor the experience to do a good job as our next PM.

“The whole Tory party is rotten and has placed poorer people at a greater disadvantage over the past 12 years.

“Tax relief for higher incomes is not going to help people like us on the bread line.

“She is just a continuation of Boris Johnson’s sleaze and another wagging dog in the system, which is flawed.

“What our country needs is change for the better and Ms Truss is not the right person to offer that.”

Ethan Phillips (51), of Vale Road in Thrybergh, added: “Rotherham always gets forgotten by those in leadership positions.

“Ms Truss’s appointment will mean my ever dwindling bank account balance is tightened even further.

“Our country is going through a devastating cost of living crisis and so far she has not made any concrete pledge to help poorer families and I do not think she will.

“It is vital she does so, because no-one is certain if they can afford to pay their next bills.”

Ms Truss has promised to “take bold action” to drive the economy forward during difficult times and “unleash the United Kingdom’s potential”.

MPs across Rotherham and the Dearne Valley were also quick to offer their opinions on Ms Truss.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion (Labour) said: “It deeply concerns me that during the prime ministerial leadership contest the bigger issues that impact us all were not addressed.

“Where were the solutions for the NHS, energy, education or transport? How is it possible to resolve the cost of living by tax cuts that give most to the wealthy?

“Liz Truss will be the fourth prime minister in the almost ten years I’ve been an MP; each seems more interested in power for themselves rather than empowering the UK people. It’s so wrong.”

Rother Valley’s Tory MP Alexander Stafford said Ms Truss would be “best placed to continue Boris Johnson’s Levelling Up agenda”.

Party colleague Nick Fletcher, who represents Don Valley, also backed Ms Truss to offer the change the country needs.

He said: “Our country needs strong leadership and she will provide exactly that.

“She has that can-do and will-do attitude that gets results.”

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, who represents Labour, congratulated Ms Truss on her appointment and invited her to visit South Yorkshire — an offer he sent to Mr Johnson which was ignored.

He said the new PM needed to “reassure communities that this government is committed to raising its focus beyond London and the south-east”.