Truss tapped to be Britain's next prime minister, draws comparisons to Margaret Thatcher

Liz Truss, a hawkish diplomat who has drawn comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, was chosen Monday by the Britain's Conservative Party to be the country's next prime minister.

Truss, 47, defeated Rishi Sunak, a former chancellor of the Exchequer, in the race to succeed the scandal-tarred Boris Johnson. She captured 57% percent of the vote and will assume office Tuesday when installed by Queen Elizabeth II.

She becomes Britain's third female prime minister, following in the footsteps of Thatcher and Theresa May, and like them faces a host of challenges.

Britain is facing the prospects of a recession and energy shortages as inflation, the pandemic, and Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine roil Europe.

Truss campaigned on promises to deliver tax cuts to weary Britons, negotiate better energy deals and remain tough on Russia by standing with Ukraine as her predecessor did.

In her victory speech, she hailed Johnson as a friend and declared he was “admired from Kyiv to Carlisle." She also vowed to make good quickly on her promises ahead of expected elections in two years.

”We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years,” she said. “We all will deliver for our country, and I will make sure that we use all the fantastic talents of the Conservative Party.”