Liz Truss and a lettuce. PA/Getty Images
Liz Truss and a lettuce. PA/Getty Images
Liz Truss and a lettuce. PA/Getty Images
Liz Truss and a lettuce. PA/Getty Images

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UK

The lettuce wins: Liz Truss outlasted by vegetable in comedy stunt

Rotting vegetable became a metaphor for swift collapse of her authority

Tim Stickings
Tim Stickings

October 20, 2022

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For Liz Truss, there was one final ignominy after her premiership came crashing down in six catastrophic weeks: she was outlasted by a lettuce.

Ms Truss has been in a race with the rotting vegetable since The Economist remarked on October 11 that her shelf life was proving shorter than that of a lettuce.

In a comedy stunt, the Daily Star made the metaphor into reality by setting up a live stream of a head of lettuce, decorated with a wig, next to a photo of Ms Truss.

“Will Liz Truss outlast this lettuce?,” was the strapline for seven days as Ms Truss's authority spectacularly collapsed.

After Ms Truss announced her resignation, her photo was placed face down, “God Save The King” rang out and the strapline read: “This lettuce outlasted Liz Truss”.

A plate of tofu was added to the table this week after former home secretary Suella Braverman launched a bizarre attack on the “tofu-eating wokerati” she said were behind climate protests.

The stunt provided some comic relief for Britons as they watched their government fall to pieces for the second time in the space of four months.

“The lettuce beat Liz for longevity,” said opposition Labour MP Stella Creasy, one of several politicians to join in the joke.

“Britain deserves so much better. We must have a general election now and give the public a say in how to fix this mess,” she said.

Former Conservative MP Alistair Burt also responded to the joke in good humour, saying: “I think we are very lucky to live in a country where the people live-stream a lettuce rather than march on Parliament.”

Liz Truss resigns — in pictures

Liz Truss announces her resignation as UK Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street in London. 'The National' looks at her brief time in power. PA
Liz Truss announces her resignation as UK Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street in London. 'The National' looks at her brief time in power. PA
Chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady speaks to the media in London following Liz Truss's announcement of her resignation. Reuters
Chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady speaks to the media in London following Liz Truss's announcement of her resignation. Reuters
Liz Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary walk back inside 10 Downing Street following her resignation statement. AFP
Liz Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary walk back inside 10 Downing Street following her resignation statement. AFP
Liz Truss during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, addressing Parliament for the first time since abandoning her disastrous tax-slashing economic policies. AFP
Liz Truss during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, addressing Parliament for the first time since abandoning her disastrous tax-slashing economic policies. AFP
Liz Truss speaks to Grant Shapps at Downing Street as he is appointed Home Secretary, after the resignation of Suella Braverman. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
Liz Truss speaks to Grant Shapps at Downing Street as he is appointed Home Secretary, after the resignation of Suella Braverman. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
A mural by artist Ciaran Gallagher in Belfast is updated to reflect Liz Truss's current political troubles. PA
A mural by artist Ciaran Gallagher in Belfast is updated to reflect Liz Truss's current political troubles. PA
Britain's new Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announcing tax and spending measures at the House of Commons in London, with Liz Truss sitting on the bench behind him. AFP
Britain's new Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announcing tax and spending measures at the House of Commons in London, with Liz Truss sitting on the bench behind him. AFP
Liz Truss gives a speech after sacking Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer. Reuters
Liz Truss gives a speech after sacking Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer. Reuters
A protest by climate change group Extinction Rebellion in central London. Ms Truss has said the group is part of an 'anti-growth coalition' with trade unions and the main opposition Labour Party. AFP
A protest by climate change group Extinction Rebellion in central London. Ms Truss has said the group is part of an 'anti-growth coalition' with trade unions and the main opposition Labour Party. AFP
Ms Truss has come under increasing pressure during her short time as prime minister. AFP
Ms Truss has come under increasing pressure during her short time as prime minister. AFP
An Extinction Rebellion protest outside Downing Street on the day Mr Kwarteng was removed from the government. AP
An Extinction Rebellion protest outside Downing Street on the day Mr Kwarteng was removed from the government. AP
Ms Truss with members of the England women's football team and the European Championship trophy in Teddington, south-west London. Getty
Ms Truss with members of the England women's football team and the European Championship trophy in Teddington, south-west London. Getty
Ms Truss arrives for a meeting of the European Political Community at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. AP
Ms Truss arrives for a meeting of the European Political Community at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. AP
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary wave after her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. AP
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary wave after her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. AP
Liz Truss gives a speech at the Conservative Party Conference. EPA
Liz Truss gives a speech at the Conservative Party Conference. EPA
Ms Truss meets with Mr Kwarteng, chancellor of the exchequer at the time. Photo: Andrew Parsons / CCHQ
Ms Truss meets with Mr Kwarteng, chancellor of the exchequer at the time. Photo: Andrew Parsons / CCHQ
Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham. AFP
Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham. AFP
Ms Truss meets US President Joe Biden for talks at the UN headquarters in New York. PA
Ms Truss meets US President Joe Biden for talks at the UN headquarters in New York. PA
Ms Truss delivers a speech at the 77th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. AP
Ms Truss delivers a speech at the 77th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. AP
The British prime minister holds a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York. Reuters
The British prime minister holds a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York. Reuters
Ms Truss meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN headquarters in New York. Reuters
Ms Truss meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN headquarters in New York. Reuters
Ms Truss speaks to the media during her visit to the Empire State building in New York. AP
Ms Truss speaks to the media during her visit to the Empire State building in New York. AP
Britain's new leader speaks during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, London. PA
Britain's new leader speaks during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, London. PA
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary observe a minute's silence at Number 10 Downing Street following the death of the queen. Reuters
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary observe a minute's silence at Number 10 Downing Street following the death of the queen. Reuters
Britain's Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Truss leave after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. AFP
Britain's Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Truss leave after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. AFP
Ms Truss joins the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and selected MPs to take the oath and swear allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons chamber. PA
Ms Truss joins the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and selected MPs to take the oath and swear allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons chamber. PA
King Charles during his first audience with Ms Truss at Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images
King Charles during his first audience with Ms Truss at Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images
Ms Truss gives a reading during a service of prayer and reflection, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Getty Images
Ms Truss gives a reading during a service of prayer and reflection, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Getty Images
The British prime minister makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street in London following the queen's death. Bloomberg
The British prime minister makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street in London following the queen's death. Bloomberg
Ms Truss speaking during her first weekly Prime Minister's Questions session at the House of Commons in London. AFP
Ms Truss speaking during her first weekly Prime Minister's Questions session at the House of Commons in London. AFP
Front pages of a selection of British national newspapers, each leading with a story about Ms Truss becoming Britain's new prime minister. AFP
Front pages of a selection of British national newspapers, each leading with a story about Ms Truss becoming Britain's new prime minister. AFP
People walk past an image in central London of Ms Truss on the side of a protest bus calling for a citizens' assembly. Reuters
People walk past an image in central London of Ms Truss on the side of a protest bus calling for a citizens' assembly. Reuters
Ms Truss holds her first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. Reuters
Ms Truss holds her first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. Reuters
Ms Truss speaks at Downing Street on the day she took over as prime minister from Boris Johnson. EPA
Ms Truss speaks at Downing Street on the day she took over as prime minister from Boris Johnson. EPA
Ms Truss poses with her husband Hugh O'Leary at Downing Street before entering as prime minister for the first time. EPA
Ms Truss poses with her husband Hugh O'Leary at Downing Street before entering as prime minister for the first time. EPA
Ms Truss is welcomed by staff in Downing Street as she enters the famous prime ministerial offices for the first time. Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
Ms Truss is welcomed by staff in Downing Street as she enters the famous prime ministerial offices for the first time. Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
New Health Secretary Therese Coffey and Number 10 staff shelter from a downpour as they wait for Ms Truss to arrive in Downing Street. PA
New Health Secretary Therese Coffey and Number 10 staff shelter from a downpour as they wait for Ms Truss to arrive in Downing Street. PA
Liz Truss makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become prime minister and form a new government. PA
Liz Truss makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become prime minister and form a new government. PA
Queen Elizabeth II greets the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, Ms Truss, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The queen invited Ms Truss to become prime minister and form a new government. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II greets the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, Ms Truss, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The queen invited Ms Truss to become prime minister and form a new government. Getty Images

The Economist's article was titled “The Iceberg Lady”, a parody of the “Iron Lady” moniker applied to Ms Truss's favourite predecessor, Margaret Thatcher.

Ms Truss's departure, expected in the next week once a new Tory leader is chosen, will make her the shortest serving prime minister in British history.

Appointed on September 6, she oversaw the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II but never recovered from a disastrous mini-budget that alienated voters, MPs and investors.

The previous shortest-serving Prime Minister, George Canning, died in office in 1827 after 119 days in power.

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