UK: Boris Johnson expresses support for Liz Truss

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson voices support for his successor, Liz Truss, who won the leadership race this week. Johnson said Truss would be able to tackle the rising energy prices.

In his final speech as prime minister in front of 10 Downing Street, Johnson expressed support for Truss, who won against former finance minister Rishi Sunak Monday. Truss will also become the Conservative Party’s new leader following her election victory.

“And I know that Liz Truss and this compassionate Conservative government will do everything we can to get people through this crisis and this country will endure it and we will win,” said Johnson.

The Financial Times reported Tuesday that Truss is not expected to activate the “Article 16” emergency measures in the Northern Ireland Protocol in the coming weeks. Article 16 refers to allowing either side to take unilateral action should they find that the post-Brexit agreement is negatively impacting their interests.

A move to trigger the measure would only increase tensions with the European Union and may lead to a trade war. The EU would likely suspend parts of the trade deal that removed tariffs and quotas for goods.

EU officials are expecting that Truss will request an extension to the grace periods agreed upon by the EU and the United Kingdom in 2020 to allow for lighter touch controls on trade between the mainland and Northern Ireland, which is set to expire on September 15.

EU diplomats say that Truss must put the bill that would unilaterally scrap some customs checks to ease the movement of goods on hold to allow for new discussions. Truss previously said that should she get elected prime minister, she would pursue the legislation.

Truss has also spoken with US President Joe Biden Tuesday. According to a readout of the call by the spokesperson of Downing Street, both leaders agreed to work together to tackle the economic problems that surfaced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“They agreed that the partnership between our countries, fortified by our shared values, has been crucial for defending and advancing freedom and democracy in the world,” said the readout.