United Kingdom: the Conservative Congress ends in a gloomy atmosphere

British Prime Minister Liz Truss during her speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, England, October 5, 2022. © AP - Kirsty Wigglesworth

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The Conservative Congress in Birmingham ends this Wednesday, October 5.

Liz Truss, appointed Prime Minister exactly a month ago, has just finished her first speech to her constituents.

A playful speech despite the gloomy atmosphere in the party and without surprise on the merits.

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With our correspondent in London

,

Liz Truss arrived in front of the conservatives to the sound of a 1990s hit "

" in which the singer repeats "

".

Smiling and more relaxed than in recent days, the Prime Minister was regularly applauded during her speech, but not really applauded.

The atmosphere is always mixed among the Conservatives, yet the subjects discussed could only please them: lower taxes, Brexit, 

 "

," said Liz Truss.

”. 

After a few minutes, she is interrupted by Greenpeace demonstrators holding up a sign “ 

".

The Prime Minister confirms the exploitation of new gas and oil deposits in the North Sea, while freezing the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. 

Liz Truss takes on pro-environment activists and trade unionists;

while a transport strike is paralyzing the country today: according to her, "

".

► To read also: United Kingdom: King Charles III will not go to COP27 after the "objection" of Liz Truss

On the other hand, she did not respond to the debate which has been raging since Tuesday in the party and which concerns social benefits.

Should they be increased to help the poorest bear inflation? 

Liz Truss therefore wants to pull the UK out of the storm, but, it seems, she will have to start by appeasing her own party. 

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• UK

• Liz Truss

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