Who is Liz Truss?

Liz Truss was appointed as Foreign Secretary in September 2021. She is the second woman to be in the role, after Margaret Beckett (2006-2007). Truss retains her brief as Minister for Women and Equalities which she has held since September 2019.

Following David Frost’s resignation in December 2021, Truss was appointed the UK’s Chief Brexit Negotiator with the EU and UK co-chair of the Joint Committee and Partnership Council.

Prior to being Foreign Secretary, Truss was Secretary of State for International Trade from July 2019 to September 2021. In the role, she undertook post-Brexit trade negotiations with countries including Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Earlier Cabinet posts included Justice Secretary and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

She was first elected MP for South West Norfolk in 2010. During the EU referendum, she backed the Remain campaign. However, Truss has since expressed support for Brexit and was one of the authors of Britannia Unchained – a 2012 book advocating free-market reform – alongside other future Cabinet members Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab.