UK PM's favorite Truss pledges urgent action on energy

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Sunday she would draw up urgent action plans to tackle rising energy bills and boost energy supplies in her first week in power if she is appointed prime minister as expected.

The ruling Conservative Party is expected to appoint Truss as its new leader and Britain's next prime minister on Monday, as the country faces a long recession, double-digit inflation and industrial unrest. The new leader, who will replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has a long and costly to-do list. Truss reiterated his pledge to stimulate growth to fix a long list of problems, saying he would be bold in tackling the weakening economy. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said he understood how hard the cost of living crisis was hitting Britons and would "take decisive action to ensure families and businesses can get through this winter and the next". "If elected, I plan to set out our immediate actions on energy bills and energy supply in the first week of my new administration," he said. "Later this month the Chancellor will hold a fiscal event with a wider package of action on the economy." The Sunday Times, citing finance ministry officials, said the cost of Truss's plan would exceed 100 billion pounds ($115 billion), much of which would be added to government borrowing. Asked about his plan in an interview with the BBC, Truss declined to elaborate, saying it was inappropriate to reveal his exact strategy before taking office. Truss did not comment on the £100 billion figure. "If I am elected prime minister I will act within a week," he told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program. Follow Global Economic Developments on Social Media! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Facebook account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Instagram account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Twitter account!