Amid political pressure in the UK for Prime Minister Liz Truss to step down, a tabloid British newspaper, the Daily Star, launched an unlikely duel on social media between Truss and a piece of lettuce. Yes, a lettuce.
On his YouTube channel and on its Twitter account, the newspaper created an uninterrupted live broadcast with the Conservative leader’s photo, a clock, and a lettuce with the following question: Can Liz Truss live longer than a lettuce? All this in the midst of her incessant calls for her to resign from her position.
The video, where a lettuce with eyes and a wig appearsquickly went viral and became one of the most talked regarding political jokes in the country.
Finally this Friday the challenge had a winner: lettuce, following the prime minister resigned from her post.
Before Truss’s speech more than 12,000 Twitter users were watching the broadcast, but when he announced his resignation, the number of viewers quickly skyrocketed to 21,000.
Soon the headlines of the newspaper continued with the political-humorous game adding new headlines in the style of: “Lettuce celebrates its victory”. Meanwhile, the live broadcast continued, although this time the vegetable was surrounded by other vegetables with googly eyes, bottles of gin and champagne, disco music and strobe lights.
After a week of intense political pressure within her own party, Truss announced her resignation less than two months following taking office.
This makes Truss the president with shortest time in power in British history.
The live broadcast of the duel between Truss and lettuce It has been a reflection of the political crisis that the country is experiencing.
This began on September 25, when the new finance minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced a tax cut that benefited the highest earners and corporations.
This measure caused the pound to fall to historical lows and received criticism from the markets and even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for trying to reduce taxes at a time of global economic crisis.
On October 3 Kwarteng had to back down from his plan and on October 14 he was fired from his post.
His replacement was replaced by Jeremy Hunt, who days later ended up burying the government’s economic plan.
Truss will remain in office until her replacement is announced, following a leadership contest within her party, which is expected to take place next week.
