WHO'S THE BOSS?

She may not be as colourful as her predecessor Boris Johnson, but Britain's new PM Liz Truss has had an interesting journey to No 10

- DENNIS CAVERNELIS

SHE'S often compared to one of Britain's most formidable and divisive prime ministers, Margaret Thatcher. Like the Iron Lady, she's a force to be reckoned with, delivers no-nonsense talks and favours a pussy-bow blouse.

But Mary Elizabeth Truss, newly elected prime minister of Britain, is also quite different to the woman she so admired that she played her during a mock election at primary school in the 1980s. Maggie, for example, would never have cheated on her husband as Liz did.

The affair nearly ended Liz's political career but she clearly lived to see another day and is now only the third woman to take up the political hot seat and the 15th to serve during Queen Elizabeth's reign.

Liz (47) beat rival Rishi Sunak (42) with a clear margin: 81 326 votes to his 60 399.

The votes came from Conservative Party members and despite the win, it's clear Liz is not loved by all.

But perhaps it's because people don't always understand her, those close to her say. "She's a very odd person, one politician told the UK Financial Times.

"Not good or bad - just very weird.

We take a closer look at the woman following in Boris Johnson's footsteps.

A FAMILY DIVIDED

Liz is the daughter of leftwing parents, John Truss, an emeritus professor of pure mathematics, and Priscilla, a nurse.

She grew up in England, Poland and Canada as her father moved between teaching posts.

Her parents were liberals, and she often accompanied  them on marches, campaigning for nuclear disarmament.

She's recalled having joined in chants of "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out", referring to the woman she later modelled herself on.

John is reportedly furious at his daughter becoming leader of the Conservative Party.

He could "barely bring himself to speak about" her being a Conservative candidate when she first stood in 2005, an insider says.