On a chief minister’s first day in workplace, they’re taken right into a high secret assembly and requested to make a plan in case of nuclear assault.
Kate Fall, David Cameron’s ‘gatekeeper’ and deputy chief of employees, remembers that second as a result of she was firmly ushered out of the PM’s den: “I was told categorically: ‘No. This next meeting – no one else is allowed.'”
A senior navy official explains the capabilities of the UK’s trident nuclear missiles. The new PM is then requested to hand-write ‘letters of final resort’ to the commanders of the UK’s 4 Vanguard submarines, with orders of the right way to reply if the British authorities has been incapacitated by an enemy nuclear strike.
Who would be the subsequent PM? Watch and comply with reside from 12.30pm on Monday as Boris Johnson’s successor is introduced.
Suddenly, a politician who might all the time defer upwards has no yet another senior to seek the advice of.
“You are at the centre of the storm”, says Kate Fall of the incomparable strain of the job. “It’s the intensity, the expectation… You’ve got people coming in all the time saying: ‘Here’s a folder. You need to look at this right now and make a decision’.”
Aside from delivering the massive speech outdoors Number 10 (thank the predecessor, set out priorities, try and encourage voters), the brand new PM should instantly appoint a cupboard.
“It’s been a surprisingly divisive and unpleasant leadership election”, argues Gavin Barwell, who was Theresa May’s chief of employees. “And I think it’s very important for whoever is prime minister that they get the most talented people into their government and try to unite the party.
“Of course, you must reward a few of your supporters, however while you win you have to be a bit ruthless and suppose: I’m PM now and in the end I’m going to face or fall on the standard of a authorities that I put in place.”
Liz Truss is known to be eager to determine herself on the world stage early on with an intervention on the UK’s strategy to Russia and China. She can also be anticipated to journey to Kyiv to satisfy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, it’s the home influence of the struggle in Ukraine that would be the prime minister’s greatest problem.
“We talk about political honeymoons, but this is an economic nightmare facing the new prime minister”, says Daniel Tomlinson from the Resolution Foundation.
“Inflation is already at double-digits. Pay is already falling at its fastest pace since the 1970s, and things are set to get worse before they get better. Energy bills are on track to top £500 a month at the start of 2023.”
Liz Truss has stated she’s going to announce her plan to assist folks with their vitality payments inside every week of taking workplace. An emergency price range is anticipated inside the first month.
Read More: Who is proposing what to deal with hovering vitality payments
The new PM additionally faces an autumn of strikes, rising calls to take care of the NHS ready occasions disaster, and a predecessor downside: “Boris is going to be difficult for whoever wins”, says Mr Barwell.
“Firstly, if it begins to go badly there’s going to be a sort of chorus of bring back Boris. Secondly, we’ve already seen his supporters pushing for the privileges committee investigation into whether he was guilty of a contempt of parliament to be canned.
“And third, I believe he is going to return to writing a newspaper column. And I can let you know from my very own expertise after I was chief of employees that these columns are all the time newsworthy.”
Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will enter workplace with essentially the most regarding financial inheritance since Margaret Thatcher’s. If they lose the following common election they’ll go down in historical past because the shortest serving PM for nearly sixty years. It is an unenviable in-tray.
Source: information.sky.com”