Liz Truss insulted several leaders, but now she will have to work with them

During her campaign to claim leadership of the Conservative Party, Liz Truss pushed to win the hearts of some 160,000 right-wing Britons.

And it was a task she stooped to, taking several opportunities to snub political figures on the other side of the political spectrum – often to the applause of her audience.

But on Tuesday, Truss will become Britain’s prime minister and the newest leader of the G7. And some of her comments on the campaign can lead to awkward encounters.

Truss caused controversy when he said “the jury is out” on whether French President Emmanuel Macron is a “friend or foe” of the United Kingdom. “If I become prime minister, I will judge him by deeds, not words,” she added.

Britain and France have been close allies on the world stage. Their relationship has been strained in recent years, particularly given the increase in migrants crossing the English Channel, but it was a notable move for a new British leader – and the foreign secretary – to suggest that France might be an “enemy”. ” from UK.

It was a stir that Boris Johnson – little known for his own history of diplomacy – felt the need to clean up, telling reporters that Macron was a “tres bon buddy” of the UK and insisting that Franco-British relations were “very good”. .

Great Britain is France’s friend; a strong ally, no matter their leaders – and sometimes despite their leaders, or the small mistakes they can make in public speaking.

Emmanuel Macron, when asked about Truss’ comments.

Truss was less interested in commenting on whether former US President Donald Trump was friend or foe, saying at her latest event that she would not discuss “potential future presidential candidates”. At the same event, she said of China’s President Xi Jinping: “I will not use the word enemy, but what I will say is that I am concerned about China’s assertiveness,” according to PA Media.

The new British prime minister also took aim at the leaders of the UK nations, with whom she will be forced to work on devolution and power-sharing agreements. She called Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford a “‘low-energy’ version of Jeremy Corbyn”, the former Labor leader, during an event last month – and said Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon is “a hunter of Warning”.

Such comments could alienate voters in Scotland, where Sturgeon pushed for an independence referendum, and in Wales, where the Conservatives are struggling to regain seats won in the 2019 general election.

“Congratulations to Liz Truss. Our political differences run deep, but I will look to build a good working relationship with her, as I did for the last 15 hours,” Sturgeon wrote on Twitter after Truss’ victory. “She must now freeze energy bills for people and businesses, provide more cash support and increase funding for utilities.”