Not even the weather could dampen enthusiasm for Liz Truss’s speech (kidding) – 28 frank appraisals
For those who believe in signs and portents, the start of Liz Truss’s tenure as prime minister was far from auspicious. The speech, originally touted to be held at 4 pm was more than an hour late, in part due to stormy weather in the Downing Street area.
You can’t tell me that God hasn’t sent this downpour as a sign. It’s virtually exclusively over Downing Street. pic.twitter.com/dx2znnmaq1
— Greg Scott (@GregScottTV) September 6, 2022
Microphones on the new Downing Street lectern got their own makeshift shelter.
Pouring down in Westminster. Some sort of black bag has been placed over the lectern to protect the microphones. The imagery isn’t the best.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) September 6, 2022
Staff took it back in …
hahahahahaha pic.twitter.com/L20JsyOakn
— Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) September 6, 2022
And brought it back out.
It's back! Long live the lectern!
— Jamie McDonald 📠🇺🇦 (@JamieHolePunch) September 6, 2022
The speech was short and full of promise. No, wait – not promise …promises – much like those of the other three Conservative prime ministers who have held office over the past 12 years. She even heaped praise on her immediate predecessor.
"We will put our nation on the path to long-term success"
PM Liz Truss says the economy, the energy crisis and the NHS are her top prioritieshttps://t.co/VlRxq6rgpL pic.twitter.com/BvRYENZyLb
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 6, 2022
Here’s how Twitter responded to the meteorological optics, the new lectern – oh, and the speech.
1.
— HappyToast ★ (@IamHappyToast) September 6, 2022
2.
If I were her I'd have started with "Finally the power to do something about pork markets!" – really lean into it.
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) September 6, 2022
3.
I’m finalising my speech for when I arrive at Downing Street later. The hardest part is always deciding where to put the awkward pauses where I grin like an idiot waiting for applause that never comes.#LizTruss
— Parody Prime Minister (@Parody_PM) September 6, 2022
4.
Number 10 has never been closer.#BelieveInTheBin #VoteBinface pic.twitter.com/DkxPWAlpBS
— Count Binface (@CountBinface) September 6, 2022
5.
Over a third of his own administration resigned in disgust at his character & conduct. He was propelled to power by bare-faced lies & kept there by sycophancy & shameless self-interest. His legacy is a country on its knees. I’m not sure ‘consequential’ is *quite* the right word. https://t.co/HgxX3zmnjk
— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) September 6, 2022
6.
Just ducked out of a meeting to listen to @TrussLiz first speech as PM – 3 mins later I’m back in it again. Is that really the best she can do? She’s had a long car journey to prepare what she was going to say – did she accidentally leave it in the car? #ThatIsADisgrace
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 6, 2022
7.
Needs levelling up https://t.co/ieFJktgjDo
— 🙅🏻♂️ ʟᴀʀʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀᴜʟ 🙅🏼♂️ (@larryandpaul) September 6, 2022
8.
Two U-turns with the podium in the last five minutes. Doesn’t bode well
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) September 6, 2022
9.
Seeing as it's raining, I'm going to go inside and play with the nuclear codes first.
— Parody Prime Minister (@Parody_PM) September 6, 2022
10.
Longest 2 minutes and 10 seconds of my life https://t.co/hBLpj04qti
— Otto English (@Otto_English) September 6, 2022
11.
We must be sure not to forget the tireless and exhausting work of the word 'deliver' at this very difficult time.
— Stephen McGann💙 (@StephenMcGann) September 6, 2022
12.
We go live to Downing Street, where the new PM is making her first speech pic.twitter.com/6PNNsi2dJA
— Max Kashevsky (@MaxKashevsky) September 6, 2022
13.
Liz Truss paid huge tribute to the achievements of Boris Johnson before saying her first priority is to get the country functioning again – seems to be an issue between these two things
— Liam Thorp (@LiamThorpECHO) September 6, 2022
14.
The new PM is rubbish. pic.twitter.com/QGDYPa9rNp
— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) September 6, 2022
15.
Generic Tory Soundbites is dead, long live Generic Tory Soundbites
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) September 6, 2022
