The Worst of All Possible UK PMs

by Stephen Lendman

Among replacement choices for ousted and discredited BoJo as new UK prime minister, Liz Truss represents the worst of all possible outcomes.

In response to her selection by Tory party members, the UK public excluded from the process, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the following:

"I wouldn't like to say that things can change for the worse, because it's hard to imagine anything worse" than the current dismal state of things in Russian/UK relations.

Weeks earlier, Sergey Lavrov said the following:

Chances of improving Russian relations with the UK ahead are grim, notably because "there's (no) room for maneuver anymore," adding:

BoJo and Truss both "publicly" said:

"We must defeat Russia. We must bring Russia to its knees. Go on, then, do it."

On the dismal state of things in Britain overall, Lavrov stressed the following:

Britain is a "country that…sacrifice(s) the interests of its people for the ambitions of politicians, who only think about the next election and nothing else."

Ahead of her selection as BoJo's replacement, Truss said Russia "must be met with force."

"We must be adamant in ensuring the (impossible to achieve) victory of (Nazified) Ukraine with military assistance and sanctions."

"(W)e can no longer take our foot off the gas pedal."

Vladimir Putin earlier estimated that EU sanctions on Russia in response to its liberating SMO "could exceed $400 billion" if remain in place for a year.

Bloc nations will also lose global competitiveness ahead for years to come, Putin stressed.

The same reality applies to Britain as evidenced by European economies in decline across the board, soaring inflation with no end of it in prospect any time soon, and growing public anger in response to hard times likely to get much harder as fall and winter approach.

Last spring, Truss argued against the reality of making a bad situation in Ukraine much worse by providing heavy and other weapons for its Nazified and conscript troops, saying:

"(I)naction would be the greatest provocation (sic)," adding:

The "architecture that was designed to guarantee peace and prosperity failed Ukraine (sic)." 

"(E)conomic and security structures developed after the Second World War and Cold War (were) bent out of shape (sic)." 

A "new approach" is needed (sic) to be "more assertive (sic). 

"(W)ar (sic) in Ukraine is our war (sic)."

Kiev's impossible to achieve victory is a "strategic imperative (sic)."

Truss called for pouring "heavy weapons, tanks" and warplanes into Ukraine.

"We need to do all of this," she roared, adding:

"(B)e bold (sic)."

She also called for a "global NATO" to arm Taiwan in similar fashion to pouring weapons in Ukraine.

At the time, Sergey Lavrov said the following:

US-dominated "NATO is essentially going to war with Russia through a proxy and arming that proxy."

"War means war."

With Truss steering Britain's ship of state, will things unravel internally on the shoals of her incompetence, ignorance and imperial arrogance?

Will she heighten the risk of unthinkable nuclear war?

According to Russia's Kommersant, she's "ready to use nuclear weapons if necessary (sic)."

And this from a Kommersant editorial, saying:

Optimism often accompanies an incoming UK prime minister and new heads of state overall in the West.

Yet believing that the likes of John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and BoJo would be great leaders of Britannia proved wrongheaded as events unfolded during their tenure.

At this time, chances are overwhelming that Truss will be the worst of a bad lot.

Her record as back-bencher and holder of various ministerial positions revealed her to be a raving pro-war, anti-populist right wing extremist of the worst kind.

According to columnist William Keegan last Sunday:

Before taking over from BoJo, "the jury…certainly (was) not out on Truss.

"She condemned herself (long) before" being on the cusp of assuming the Tory leadership.

She's "misguided" on major issues, including the "obvious (Brexit) disaster."

And she "has not shared her strategic economic plans with us because she probably hasn't any."

And this from columnist Pippa Crerar, saying:

Straightaway on day one, Truss "fac(es) an economic storm as soaring inflation and energy bills inflict pain on millions of families and businesses" in Britain.

Yet she rejects ways of aiding Brits struggle during hard times in favor of tax cuts for monied interests and other failed neoliberal policies.

In response to her at No. 10, "Labor is gearing up to attack (her) as an ideologue, focusing on her ambitions to tear up workers' rights, reduce the size of the state, and with it public spending on already cash-strapped services like schools and hospitals."

Labor billboards read:

"She is not on your side."

Time isn't on her side.

According to a YouGov poll out Monday:

Only 19% of respondents expressed confidence in how she'll address cost of living issues, 67% not confident about how she'll handle the issue.

Even among Tory faithful, there's skepticism about whether she's up to the challenge of handling Britain's top job.

Storm clouds confronting her may make things much harder as Britain sinks into full-blown recession.

In response to soaring double-digit inflation, strike actions for relief signal more of the same if things worsen instead of approving, the former most likely as fall and winter approach.

As foreign minister, Truss offended countries she criticized, including France.

On Tuesday at Balmoral Castle, she was formally appointed prime minister by Queen Elizabeth II.

The moment may be the high point of what may be all downhill ahead.