The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP
Biography
Elizabeth Truss was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 15 September 2021. She was appointed Minister for Women and Equalities on 10 September 2019. She was elected as the Conservative MP for south west Norfolk in 2010.
Education
Elizabeth studied philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford.
Political career
Elizabeth entered Parliament in 2010. She was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare in September 2012. Elizabeth served as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from July 2014 until July 2016.
Elizabeth was Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from July 2016 until June 2017. She was Chief Secretary to the Treasury from June 2017 until July 2019.
Career outside politics
Elizabeth was previously Deputy Director at Reform. She also worked in the energy and telecommunications industry for 10 years as a commercial manager and economics director, and is a qualified management accountant.
Personal life
Elizabeth is married with 2 children.
Follow Liz Truss on Twitter: @trussliz and on LinkedIn.
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for all Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office business, including:
- overarching responsibility for the departmental portfolio and oversight of the ministerial team
- Cabinet
- National Security Council (NSC)
- strategy
- intelligence policy
- honours
Minister for Women and Equalities
The Minister for Women and Equalities has responsibility for:
- developing an equalities policy that it is based on individual autonomy and dignity
- promoting equality of opportunity for everyone
Before July 2014, this role was covered by the Minister for Women and the Minister for Equalities.
Government Equalities Office, Equality Hub, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Previous roles in government
Announcements
Subscriptions
- Foreign Secretary's visit to Prague, May 2020: press statement
- Putin is waging the war on the Ukrainian people and the foundations of our societies: Foreign Secretary's speech in Sarajevo, May 2022
- During visit to Sarajevo and Prague Foreign Secretary says West needs to ensure Putin loses in Ukraine
- Government launches taskforce to boost women starting fast-growing companies
- EU, US, and UK establish Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) for Ukraine: joint statement
- China’s human rights violations in Xinjiang: Foreign Secretary's statement, May 2022
- UK and Lithuania commit to closer collaboration to tackle malign regimes
- UK medical aid donations to Ukraine to reach 11 million items
- UK targets Russian airlines with new sanctions
- Northern Ireland Protocol: Foreign Secretary's statement, 17 May 2022