On a live video that’s been running since October 14, the Daily Star asked which would last longer: Liz Truss or a lettuce. The results are in. On Thursday, after less than six weeks in office, the prime minister resigned. Now, both the Conservative Party and the country are back to where they were two months ago — in search of a leader.
Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor of the Exchequer, is the favorite. Truss inherited a difficult set of economic circumstances which she managed to worsen with her bungled tax-cuts plan. Not only is Sunak highly qualified to navigate the fiscal challenges, but he can also say, “I told you so” while doing it.
Boris Johnson hinted during his resignation speech that he’d be back. “Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plow,” he said, comparing himself to a Roman statesman who left politics for farming until disaster struck and Roman leaders begged him to return. Once again, fate appears to be on Johnson’s side. . . . Though some are sounding enthusiastic about the prospect of Johnson’s return, in practice, this would be another step backward. Liz Truss took over in the first place because Johnson’s grip on power had become untenable. The reasons for this have not been resolved. And Johnson — talented though he is at winning elections — is not the man to lead Britain through the current crisis.