Talk of the town : UK Prime Minister Truss announces resignation
【明報專訊】After being appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on September 6, Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister (PM) of the UK on October 20 after serving the nation for only 45 days. The tenure of Truss was the shortest in British history.
The reason contributing to her low popularity and resignation was mainly her failure in solving the economic problems of the UK. In the UK, the cost of living crisis is a burning issue, as people have been suffering from rising fuel prices since the Russo-Ukrainian War. On top of that, the "mini-budget" proposed by Truss's cabinet added fuel to the fire. The mini-budget suggested a tax cut which some said would lead to inflation and further aggravate the financial burden of the people, affecting all sectors in the UK ranging from ordinary families, restaurant owners, businessmen to investors.
■Female PMs in the Bristish history
Apart from Liz Truss, there have been two female PMs in Bristish history:
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)
Known as the 'Iron Lady', Thatcher was the first female British PM with the longest tenure in the 20th century. She stood down after serving as PM for 11 years due to the her unpopularity in the Conversative Party and the mishandling of the economy. During her tenure, she promoted the British entry to the European Community (re-formed as European Union in 1993) and negotiated with the Chinese government on the Hong Kong question.
Theresa May (1956-)
As the second female PM in Bristish history, she served as PM of the UK for 3 years. The main task carried out by May was to negotiate a 'Brexit' agreement with the European Union after the British people voted to leave the European Union. However, her Brexit proposal was not agreed upon by parliament and she thus resigned her role as Bristish PM.
■Grammar booster
A burning issue
An urgent or crucial issue under heated discussion.
e.g. Solving housing problem is always a burning issue for the leaders of Hong Kong government.
■Game
According to UK government statistics, the average milk price for August 2022 was 46.71 pence (0.47 GBP) per litre.
1. Suppose GBP £1 = HKD $8.9. How much is a litre of milk (in Hong Kong dollars)? HKD$ _________
2. Go to the supermarket with your parents and pay attention to milk prices. Is milk sold in Hong Kong more expensive than that in Britain?
YES / NO
(Answer on next text)
■Gear up
Fuel prices increased in Britain since the Russo-Ukrainian War.(True/ False)
(Answer on next text)
■Glossary
tenure (n) 任期
popularity (n) 民望
inflation (n) 通貨膨脹
negotiate (v) 交涉
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view to rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第357期]
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【明報專訊】Plastic pollution threatens sustainable development and our own ... 詳情
