Steal Her Look: Liz Truss Mocked for Dressing as Margaret Thatcher During Leadership Debate

After Boris Johnson announced his resignation, a race for 10 Downing Street started in the Conservative Party. Initially, eight candidates announced their bids for the office, and now five politicians are contesting to become the next UK Prime Minister.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has decided to boost her chances in the leadership debates by recreating the looks of the Iron Lady. The politician came to the Friday event to face her fellow conservatives wearing a black blazer and white shirt with a pussycat bow. This outfit clearly had a striking resemblance to the one worn by Margaret Thatcher during her appearance in the 1979 leadership debate.

This is not the first time Truss has attempted to emulate Thatcher's image: during her trip to Russia earlier this year, the foreign secretary was sporting a round fur hat, similar to the one that the Tory Prime Minister wore when she traveled to Moscow in 1987.

For the #C4LeaderDebate Liz Truss has recreated Margaret Thatcher’s appearance from her 1979 election broadcast down to the last detail pic.twitter.com/pqzJPADQsl

— Andrew Gunn 🇺🇦 (@ASGunn) July 15, 2022

After the Tory leadership debate, I have now updated my Liz Truss – Thatcher cosplay line-up

Liz swears this is all sheer coincidence#c4leadersdebate #lizztruss pic.twitter.com/peoUR7pBF8

— Louis 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 〓〓 💙 Defend the right to vote (@LouisHenwood) July 15, 2022

Presumably Truss isn’t old enough to know what a lot of us thought of Thatcher?

— Candidate GrouchyMarxist (@Evilgenius222) July 15, 2022

Liz Truss is doing Faith Brown doing Thatcher. #ToryLeadershipContest #channel4 pic.twitter.com/SJjSyZCs6Q

— Julia Raeside 💙 (@JNRaeside) July 15, 2022

Not the point I know, but Sunak trying not to giggle when Truss is doing her best Thatcher impression is mildly amusing.

— jojo77💙 (@other_mrs) July 15, 2022

Liz Truss's Margaret Thatcher Tribute Act is available for hire #ConservativeLeadershipContest #C4LeaderDebate pic.twitter.com/Q0pNttcySE

— Pete Edwards 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 📷 👨‍🍳 (@MrPeteEdwards) July 15, 2022

Truss is basically just trying to be Thatcher isn’t she. She’s lowered her voice and is even wearing a pussy bow blouse and blue jacket.
It’s so bloody cringey!
She has the air of a little girl trying hard to act like a grown up.

— Buck Frexit! 🇪🇺🇺🇦🌎🐟FBPE #GTTO #PR (@Beany_1) July 15, 2022

Truss wearing a pussybow collar is the least subtle “Trust me I’m basically Thatcher” reference ever

— Agnes (@agnesfrim) July 15, 2022

Apart from Truss, the debate featured four other candidates - Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat, ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak, former Minister of State for Equalities Kemi Badenoch and Minister of State for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt.

According to a survey held among Tory voters by Opinium, Tugendhat performed best, as he was backed by 36% of voters. Sunak came second with 24%, Mordaunt and Badenoch managed to get 12% each, and Truss came last with only 7%.

The Friday event became yet another step in a Tory leadership election, triggered by the resignation of Boris Johnson, who decided to step down after several dozen top officials left his government. The mass exodus was caused by a recent scandal with Chris Pincher - a party whip, who resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to media next to 10 Downing Street in London, Thursday, July 7, 2022

© AP Photo / Alberto Pezzali

Now, several rounds of elections among Conservative MPs will be held, and in each round the candidate with the fewest votes will have to leave the race. When only two contenders remain, Conservative Party members will vote to decide who becomes the new party leader and Prime Minister. The results are expected to be announced on September 5.