Politics & World • Prime Minister

Liz Truss

Liz Truss is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Liz Truss is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. She was the Conservative MP for South West Norfolk from 2010 to 2024 and held several senior Cabinet roles before becoming prime minister. Her premiership lasted 49 days, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.

Early life and education

Mary Elizabeth Truss was born in Oxford on 26 July 1975. The supplied sources do not provide detailed information about her education beyond her birthplace and birth date.

Political career

Truss was elected to the House of Commons in 2010 as the Conservative MP for South West Norfolk. She later held several Cabinet positions, including Justice Secretary, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Women and Equalities Minister, Trade Secretary and Foreign Secretary.

Prime ministership

Truss became prime minister on 6 September 2022 after being elected Conservative Party leader. Her premiership ended on 25 October 2022 following a political and market crisis linked to her government's fiscal plans.

Legacy

Her time in office is chiefly noted for its brevity and its political instability. She is widely described in the supplied sources as the shortest-serving prime minister in British history and the third woman to hold the office.

Key facts

Truss became prime minister after winning the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.
She resigned as prime minister after 49 days in office, the shortest premiership in British history.
She served as Foreign Secretary from 2021 to 2022.
She was the Conservative MP for South West Norfolk from 2010 to 2024.
Before becoming foreign secretary, she held Cabinet posts under David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

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Canadian context

Truss's premiership affected Canada indirectly through UK foreign policy, trade, and Commonwealth relations, but the supplied sources do not identify a direct Canada-specific role or event.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Liz Truss?

Liz Truss is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022.

What is Liz Truss's full name?

Her full name is Mary Elizabeth Truss.

How long was Liz Truss prime minister?

She was prime minister for 49 days, from 6 September to 25 October 2022.

What constituency did Liz Truss represent?

She represented South West Norfolk in the House of Commons from 2010 to 2024.

What cabinet roles did Liz Truss hold before becoming prime minister?

She served in several senior roles, including Justice Secretary, Trade Secretary, Women and Equalities Minister, and Foreign Secretary.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Truss
Supports: Full name, birth date, premiership dates, shortest-serving prime minister claim, MP for South West Norfolk, and Cabinet roles.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Liz-Truss
Supports: Birth date and place, election as Conservative leader and prime minister, and resignation after six weeks.
UK Government — https://www.gov.uk/government/people/elizabeth-truss
Supports: Official record of her office as Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Women and Equalities Minister, and election as MP for South West Norfolk.
EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/liz-truss
Supports: Biography details including premiership, earlier parliamentary and Cabinet service, and short tenure as prime minister.
Museum of the Prime Minister — https://www.museumofpm.org/prime-ministers/liz-truss/
Supports: Shortest-serving prime minister characterization and resignation/office dates.