# Seeking right tone, new UK PM Truss had to quickly change gear for queen Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-13 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: New UK Prime Minister Liz Truss Faces Nation in Mourning Meta Description: Explore the eventful first week of UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, as she navigates energy crises, royal mourning, and showcases leadership. Read more. URL: https://financedigest.com/seeking-right-tone-new-uk-pm-truss-had-to-quickly-change-gear-for-queenhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-13t060302z1lynxmpei8c083rtroptp4britain-royals-queen-truss-1736815229728-compressed.jpg) By Elizabeth Piper and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – Just a week after Queen Elizabeth asked Liz Truss to form a government, Britain’s new prime minister is attending services of reflection across the country with King Charles, determined to strike the right tone in her first days in power. It has been a week like no other for the prime minister. Her first big announcement, on only her second full day in office, had been a more than 100 [billion pound package to ease the pain of spiralling energy](https://www.financedigest.com/petrofac-hitachi-energy-receive-14-billion-agreement-from-tennet.html "Petrofac, Hitachi Energy receive billion agreement from TenneT") prices. But while sitting in parliament after unveiling it, a much more dramatic statement was brought to her attention – the queen was gravely ill. Hours later, Truss delivered a statement from outside her new Downing Street office and residence, [paying tribute to the queen](https://www.financedigest.com/some-russians-mourn-queen-elizabeth-with-flowers-as-kremlin-pays-respects.html "Some Russians mourn Queen Elizabeth with flowers as Kremlin pays respects"), who had died at her home in Scotland, plunging the country into a period of mourning. [“Queen Elizabeth](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-prince-harry-and-wife-meghan-will-attend-celebrations-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will attend celebrations for Queen Elizabeth") II was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” Truss said then. “She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all. Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she [appointed me as her 15th prime minister.”](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-queen-elizabeth-will-appoint-new-prime-minister-at-balmoral.html "Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will appoint new prime minister at Balmoral") The queen’s appointment of her was the monarch’s last public act. With her [energy package](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-reaction-to-uks-energy-support-package-for-businesses.html "Factbox-Reaction to UK’s energy support package for businesses") all but on hold, although households will get the help provided from Oct. 1, Truss instead has had to help guide the [nation in mourning](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-declares-period-of-national-mourning-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK declares period of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth") while allowing Buckingham Palace to take the lead in its long-planned ceremonies. So far, several lawmakers and royal observers said, so good. “I think that she has done very well. She has come over as measured, calm and competent. She has caught the mood of the nation exactly. I am really very impressed,” said David Jones, a Conservative lawmaker and former minister. “I am afraid the energy stuff was completely lost in the noise.” Truss, 47, had repeatedly said during weeks of a contest to become leader of the governing Conservative Party, she was ready to [govern from day one to tackle the most daunting set of challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/5-challenges-to-overcome-in-governance-risk-and-compliance-magazine.html "5 Challenges to Overcome in Governance, Risk and Compliance-Magazine") for an incoming leader in post-War history. From an [energy crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-energy-crisis-and-the-nuclear-path-out.html "Europe’s energy crisis and the nuclear path out"), to a forecast long recession and the Conservatives behind in the opinion polls, Truss, who was appointed prime minister by the party rather than the country, and her team had barely set foot in Downing Street before they were choreographing her first big statement on fuel prices. BILLIONS SPEECH But despite it landing largely well, she had little time to enjoy the moment. She quickly realised the gravity of situation and holed herself up in her office to write a speech paying tribute to the queen who had reigned over [Britain for 70 years](https://www.financedigest.com/2043-the-year-britain-will-turn-cashless.html "2043: The year Britain will turn cashless"). Truss described it as a “billions” speech, according to one source close to her, referring to the fact that its reach to the world would eclipse the ones she had been giving to the party faithful in the leadership contest and also her acceptance speech to [Britain outside Downing Street only two days](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-on-course-for-hottest-day-on-record.html "Britain on course for hottest day on record") before. “She knew she had to get it right,” the source said. Truss attended a service of reflection in Scotland on Monday, and will also attend services in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, and then England and Wales [later in the week](https://www.financedigest.com/wall-st-seen-steady-ahead-of-inflation-data-fed-later-in-week.html "Wall St seen steady ahead of inflation data, Fed later in week"). The prime minister feels it’s important to be at these [services during what will be a significant](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-bolsters-sme-service-with-significant-investment.html "HERMES BOLSTERS SME SERVICE WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT") moment of national mourning around the UK,” said the prime minister’s spokesman. She also met [King Charles](https://www.financedigest.com/in-loving-and-devoted-memory-king-charles-handwritten-note-to-late-queen.html "‘In loving and devoted memory’: King Charles handwritten note to late queen") on Friday for a one-on-one meeting, then on Saturday with her cabinet team of top ministers as well as attending the accession council that day. Royal biographer Robert Lacey said [King Charles’](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-tells-britains-king-charles-the-first-lady-will-attend-coronation.html "Biden tells Britain’s King Charles the first lady will attend coronation") leadership in mourning could buttress Truss in her new role, almost a role reversal from 1997 when Princess Diana died and then prime minister Tony Blair was at the fore, advising the queen on how to deal with the outpouring of grief. Back in ’97, the prime [minister of the day](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-missiles-hit-30-of-ukraines-energy-infrastructure-in-two-days-minister.html "Russian missiles hit 30% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in two days – minister") had to step in really to help and guide the monarch,” Lacey told Reuters. “I’m not saying the situation’s reversed today, but the presence of Charles actually helped strengthen Liz Truss in her new role. But some opposition politicians [say the new prime minister](https://www.financedigest.com/german-minister-says-on-right-track-to-solving-co2-emitting-car-row.html "German minister says ‘on right track’ to solving CO2-emitting car row") will have to do much more to win over voters, criticising her presentation and pointing out that even she admits she might not be “the slickest presenter. One lawmaker from the main opposition Labour Party said other speakers in parliament had “outshone” Truss, including her predecessor Boris Johnson, who [according to the Sunday Times](https://www.financedigest.com/us-homeowners-premium-set-to-surpass-90bn-for-the-first-time-according-to-annual-aon-study.html "US homeowners premium set to surpass bn for the first time, according to annual Aon study") newspaper had woken early on Friday to write his speech from scratch. But even that lawmaker conceded she had [“performed admirably” in a “challenging”](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-innovation-in-challenger-banks-encourages-legacy-banks-to-perform-better.html "How digital innovation in challenger banks encourages legacy banks to perform better") week. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Michael Holden; Additional reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Alison Williams) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---