UK Tory leadership race: Liz Truss elected Conservative Party leader and next prime minister

Liz Truss has secured victory as leader of the UK Conservative Party and will become the country’s next prime minister, beating her opponent, Rishi Sunak.

She secured 81,326 votes against Mr Sunak’s 60,399.

Ms Truss will be takes over as party leader and UK prime minister from Boris Johnson, who resigned in July after months of scandal, kicking off a leadership race within the governing party.

On Tuesday, Ms Truss will officially become prime minister when she visits the Queen in Balmoral for an invitation to form her government.

Speaking shortly after the news of her victory emerged, Ms Truss thanked Boris Johnson for “getting Brexit done”, and also reiterated plans to cut taxes.

On the issue on everybody’s lips, rising energy bills, Ms Truss said she will “deliver” on dealing with the issue but also the challenges surrounding long-term supply.