Liz Truss resigned as the Prime Minister of the UK just six weeks after she became the leader of the Conservative Party. Her resignation comes after she lost the confidence of Tory MPs. 

Truss entered office on September 6 with a promise that she would make sweeping changes and address the power crisis in the country. However, her mini-budget backfired severely after she announced tax cuts which were aimed at high-earners, earning her a rarely seen public rebuke from the International Monetary Fund. 

Who is Craig Whittaker?

Craig Whittaker is a British politician who has been part of the Conservative Party since 2003. He served as the Government Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of the Household since September 8, 2022. Before that, Whittaker served as the Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from July to September 2022.

Born on August 30, 1962 in Radcliffe, Lancashire, Whittaker and his family immigrated to Australia at the age of 5. In 1984, he returned to England becoming a branch manager at Wilkinson for six years. His career in politics began in 2003, when he was elected to the Calderdale Council. 

In 2007, he was elected to be the Conservative Party’s candidate for Calder Valley. He was first selected as the MP of Calder Valley in 2010. In the 2015, 2017 and 2019 general elections, he maintained his hold on the seat. Whittaker voted remain during the 2016 Brexit referendum but then said he supported the result and the government’s position. 

In the past, Whittaker has served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He has served as the HM Lord Commissioner to The Treasury in the Government Whips Office . Prior to that role, he was the Assistant Whip from 2017 after the general election. 

Whittaker is married and has been with his wife Elaine Wilkinson since 2011. His daughter Sophie is a Conservative councillor for the Rastrick Wardon the Calderdale council.