Liz Truss rules out snap election after winning Tory leadership by narrowest margin ever

New Tory leader uses Queen Elizabeth Center victory speech to praise outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson for brokering Brexit

Mrs. Truss obtains 57% of the votes of the Conservative members (

Image: Getty Images)

Liz Truss appears to have ruled out a snap general election - saying there will be a 'big win' for the Conservative Party in 2024 at the polls.

In her maiden speech as the new leader of the Tories, Ms Truss also praised outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for defeating Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 and bringing about Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary's victory was secured by the tightest margin in Conservative history since the current rules - mandating a member vote - were introduced in 1998 by the party executive.< /p>

She got 57% against 66% for Boris Johnson, 68% for David Cameron and 61% for Iain Duncan Smith. Theresa May was nominated after her 2016 rival, Andrea Leadsom, dropped out of the contest.

Addressing party loyalists at Monday's coronation event at the Queen Elizabeth Centre, Ms Truss vowed to 'deliver a big victory for the Conservative Party in 2024'.

She said: "My friends, we have to show that we will be up to it in the next two years.

"I will come up with a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy. I will implement the energy crisis, taking care of people's energy bills, but also taking care of the long term."

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The comment appears to rule out the prospect of a snap general election, after Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer challenged whoever wins the Tory contest to visit the country.

Mr. Johnson and his predecessor, Ms May, also rejected pushes for a snap general election before entering Number 10 - but both reneged on pledges not to seek a snap election.