Liz Truss told Britons that they could “ride out the storm” of the worst economic crisis in a generation as she addressed the nation for the first time as prime minister.
Standing in Downing Street, she promised she would take “action this day and every day” to transform the country into what she called an “aspiration nation”.
The new prime minister reiterated that her plan to help struggling households through the cost of living crisis this winter was coming, as well as more action to support the NHS.
In a short and direct speech, she told the assembled crowd: “We shouldn’t be daunted by the challenges we face, as strong as the storm may be. I know that the British people are stronger.
“Our country was built by people who can get things done. We have huge reserves of talent, of energy, of determination. I am confident that together we can ride out the storm.
“We can rebuild our economy and we can become the modern, brilliant Britain I know we can be.”
Truss, 47, took over as prime minister after meeting the Queen at Balmoral, where she was asked to form a government after the resignation of Boris Johnson, who was ousted by Tory MPs earlier this summer after a series of scandals.
She returned immediately to Downing Street by private jet for her first address to the nation in her new role, narrowly avoiding a thunderstorm that initially seemed to have forced her inside to deliver her speech.
One of her first significant acts as prime minister is expected to be an announcement on plans to tackle the energy price crisis, with allies understood to be discussing a £100bn package to freeze bills. This could come as soon as Thursday and is expected to be paid via extra borrowing, rather than a windfall tax on suppliers as Labour has proposed.
After her address, Truss is planning to make the final tweaks to her cabinet, which will be announced later on Tuesday, with more junior roles following over the coming days. She is expected to appoint a cabinet of loyalists, including Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor, James Cleverly as foreign secretary and Suella Braverman as home secretary.