Who is Liz Truss and why did the UK not hold a general election?

Britain's new prime minister is fourth in six years, and takes over after resignation of Boris Johnson

Liz Truss, who has held the foreign affairs portfolio in the UK government since September 2021, has been appointed as prime minster by Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

Her elevation to the role - the third time in which it has been held by a woman, in each case a Conservative - comes after a two-month campaign to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of Britain's ruling Tory party, in which she vied with another candidate for members' votes.