How the world reported on Liz Truss’s resignation
The outgoing PM was dubbed ‘the failed lady’ by German newspaper
“The lettuce outlasts Liz Truss,” announced The New York Times within an hour of the prime minister’s resignation.
In a “ludicrous statement befitting of a ludicrous moment”, the paper explained to US readers, the UK’s Daily Star had pitted a piece of salad against the embattled Tory leader in a web-cam stunt as Truss’s premiership descended into chaos. And “in the end”, said The Atlantic, “the lettuce won”.
But while the pound rallied as markets reacted favourably to Truss’s imminent departure, international commentators pointed out that the challenges facing her successor will be no laughing matter.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
‘Long winter of discontent’
Truss’s successor will have to “navigate a political crisis and economic turbulence”, said The Wall Street Journal, as Britain battles “stagflation – the combination of slow growth and high inflation”.
The next PM is “almost sure to face a long winter of discontent”, added the paper’s UK correspondent Max Colchester, “with real wages forecast to fall, labour unions promising a series of strikes and many voters demanding elections”.
The House magazine editor Rosa Prince found it “hard to believe” that less than six weeks had passed since Truss met with Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral before taking over in No. 10. The Conservatives – “the most electorally successful party in British political history” – is now “battle scarred, riven into multitudes of factions and overhung with an air of bitterness”, Prince wrote in an article for CNN.
Zurich’s 20 Minuten noted that the UK government “was in a state of chaos” before Truss was “forced to vacate her post”. Hamburg’s Der Spiegel agreed that in just “six weeks at the head of government”, Truss caused “turbulence in the financial markets”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
At least Britain’s next PM “will not be subject to a months-long election like last time”, said Time’s London-based reporter Yasmeen Serhan, following reports that the Tory party leadership contest will be completed within the next week. Members are likely to “seek out a unity candidate who can bring the party together after a fractious six weeks and improve its standing in the polls”, Serhan predicted.
‘The failed lady’
Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel described Truss as “the failed lady”, and said that while she was “by no means to blame” for the death of the Queen, the circumstances under which she took office were now seen by “many Britains” as a “bad omen”.
In Russia, the Foreign Ministry publicly welcomed the resignation of Truss, who had pledged her support to Ukraine. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova declared that Britain had “never seen such disgrace from a prime minister”. Truss would be remembered for her “catastrophic illiteracy”, Zakharova added.
State-owned Russian news ageny RIA Novosti summed up the situation even more bluntly, with the headline: “Truss Humiliation. UK loses second prime minister in a year.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
How can you save on homeowners insurance?
The Explainer With the rise in extreme weather, house protection is a non-negotiable
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Donald Trump is downplaying his position on abortion
The Explainer He says it's a state issue, but opponents have concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
5 spellbinding new books to read in October. Witches and colonization tales included.
The Week Recommends Ta-Nehisi Coates shines a light on Palestine, and Louise Erdrich takes us to North Dakota
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Victoria Starmer: Keir's private partner with the calming role
In The Spotlight Despite staying out of the spotlight, the Labour leader's wife is under increasing attention as Downing Street nears
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss to save the West: is a political comeback really on the cards?
Talking Point The former prime minister is back with a new tell-all memoir
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published