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Liz Truss Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth26 July 1975

Age47 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceOxford, England

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityBritish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseHugh O'Leary

FamilyTwo daughters: Liberty and Frances

Liz Truss Biography

Mary Elizabeth Truss is a British Conservative politician who served in multiple cabinet roles and briefly became the United Kingdom's 56th Prime Minister.

Early life and background

Mary Elizabeth Truss was born on 26 July 1975 in Oxford, England. Her family moved to Scotland when she was a child, and she attended primary and secondary schools in both the UK and Canada. She studied at Merton College, University of Oxford, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Truss comes from a family with an academic and public service background: her father was a professor of mathematics and her mother worked as a nurse and teacher.

Career

Truss joined the Conservative Party in 1996 and built a career that blended private-sector experience with political work. Early roles included positions at Shell and Cable & Wireless, where she rose to an economic directorship. She qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1999 and later worked as deputy director of the Reform think tank, contributing to policy reports.

Her active role in party organisation began at the local level: she served as chairperson of the Lewisham Deptford Conservative Association from 1998 to 2000 and was elected as a councillor for Eltham South in Greenwich in 2006. Nationally, she was selected as the Conservative candidate for South West Norfolk in 2009 and became Member of Parliament for that constituency.

Within government, Truss held several ministerial posts. She was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education in September 2012 and later served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In July 2016 she became Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, and in 2017 she was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Following the 2019 general election, she took on the roles of Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade. In September 2021 she became Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

In the aftermath of Boris Johnson’s resignation, Truss stood in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest. She defeated Rishi Sunak in the members’ vote and on 6 September 2022 became the 56th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, making her the third woman to hold the office after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Her premiership was short-lived: facing a revolt within her party, she resigned on 20 October 2022 after 45 days in office.

Public profile

Truss has been associated with a number of policy initiatives and group projects throughout her career. She was a founder of the Free Enterprise Group and co-authored books with fellow group members, including Britannia Unchained. Her parliamentary work included campaigns on local transport and road safety, securing improvements for the A11 and campaigning for design changes on the A47 following fatal crashes. She has also published papers on education and childcare policy, drawing attention to social mobility and opportunities for students from low-income families.

Her public image has generated strong reactions at times, and media outlets have applied a range of nicknames reflecting that visibility. She has also faced criticism over the use of public funds for photography and PR activity during official trade visits, an episode that attracted press attention.

Personal life

Known publicly as Liz Truss, she is married to Hugh O’Leary, an accountant and finance director. The couple married in 2000 and have two daughters, Liberty and Frances. Truss describes baking as a hobby, and she does not follow a vegetarian diet. She is British by nationality and her listed physical details include blue eyes and light blonde hair.

Latest updates

In summer 2022 Truss announced her candidacy to become Prime Minister and campaigned on tax reductions and support for households struggling with the cost of living. During the leadership contest she set out plans to pursue new trade relationships, including proposals for increased trade with Commonwealth countries described as a ‘New Commonwealth Deal.’ Her tenure as Prime Minister began in early September 2022 and ended in late October 2022 following a series of events that led to her resignation after 45 days in office.
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Recent Work

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Became the 56th Prime Minister on 6 September 2022; resigned on 20 October 2022 after 45 days in office.

2022
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Served as Foreign Secretary prior to standing for the Conservative Party leadership in 2022.

2021-2022
Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade

Held the international trade portfolio following the 2019 general election.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined the Conservative Party in 1996 and rose through local and national roles
  2. Held multiple cabinet positions including Justice Secretary, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, International Trade Secretary and Foreign Secretary
  3. Elected Leader of the Conservative Party and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2022
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Liz Truss born?

26 July 1975

What is Liz Truss known for?

Politician

What is Liz Truss’s marital status?

Married

Who is Liz Truss married to?

Hugh O'Leary