OXFORD-BORN Liz Truss must make the cost of living crisis an immediate priority, politicians in the area have said.
Ms Truss, who read PPE at the University of Oxford’s Merton College, beat Rishi Sunak to win the race for leadership of the Conservative Party.
She is now set to take over as Prime Minister from Boris Johnson.
Her in tray will already be full, yet senior politicians in Oxfordshire have said tackling the cost of living crisis must be a prime concern – with one MP stating Ms Truss is ‘not up to the job’.
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran said: “Throughout her campaign, Liz Truss has shown that she simply does not have a plan for the changes this country needs.
“Food prices are skyrocketing, and hard-working people are already feeling the impact of rising energy bills.
“They need urgent action now to tackle the cost of living crisis. Liz Truss is simply not up to the job.
“I will continue to stand up for the people of Oxford West and Abingdon in Parliament, holding this new Government’s feet to the fire over the issues that matter to families, pensioners, nurses and teachers in my local area.
“As this new Prime Minister is elected by only 170,000 Conservative Party members, now more than ever we need a general election to give voters a chance to kick this failing Conservative Government out for good.”
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran. Picture: Richard Cave
Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman said local authorities such as her own need Government support to ‘properly fund’ social care.
She told this newspaper: “Liz Truss has said she will be reversing the decision to increase national insurance contributions, but she has not said how she proposes to fund social care.
“With the rise in cost of living, adult and children’s social care is rapidly becoming another emergency that her Government will have to deal with urgently but she appears to have no plans to do this.
“The Government needs to properly fund adults and children’s social care instead of leaving councils to fend for themselves against rising levels of demand and the costs of planned reforms.
“With inflation on the rise, the costs of many services are higher than they were and the Government needs to address this as it is affecting council services throughout the country including here in Oxfordshire.”
Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman. Picture: Ed Nix
Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown tweeted: “An underwhelming vote of confidence for a new Prime Minister who has been part of Boris Johnson’s failed Government from the start.
“There is no sign that Liz Truss will provide the leadership necessary to help our broken economy and families suffering the cost of living crisis.”
Banbury MP Victoria Prentis backed Mr Sunak to become Tory party leader but congratulated Ms Truss, and said she has a ‘bold plan to tackle the cost of living’.
She said: “I am proud of the campaign my friend and colleague Rishi Sunak has run over the summer.
“After what has been a rich contest with lots of sensible debate, now is the time for our party to unite.
“Liz Truss has a bold plan to tackle the cost of living. We must come together to address the issues we face as a nation.”
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This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice