'They need to get a grip, and find out how much a loaf of bread costs right now': Harpurhey reacts to Liz Truss' election

It's official - after a long summer of campaigning and speculation, Liz Truss will become the next Prime Minister.

She achieved an strong victory, taking 57pc of the vote to beat ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak to the top job. But the vote was only open to Conservative party members, meaning the majority of the electorate were not eligible to have their say.

And far away from Westminster, shoppers in Harpurhey this afternoon were more concerned about what comes next than who comes next.

READ MORE: Liz Truss pledges to 'deliver, deliver, deliver' as she succeeds Boris Johnson as Prime Minister

Friends Mary Barlow and Linda Simpson said they found it hard to trust Truss with sorting the big issues facing the country.

"I think she's promising a lot that she can't deliver," Linda told the Manchester Evening News. "I think she's better than Rishi, but I would've preferred Boris to stay."

Mary and Linda disagreed on their preferred candidate, but were more concerned about their energy bills this coming winter.

"I'm very worried about the energy crisis," Linda said. "If it's going to be £40 a week to pay those bills, that leaves me with just £60 to live on."

She said she thought the government needed to do more for pensioners - she is worried about how she will live this winter on her £102 per week state pension.

And their concerns were shared by others in the area. Mother and daughter Lorraine Ward, 53, and Ellen Ormrod, 18, also said they didn't 'have faith' in Truss to get to grips with the country's biggest issues.

"I don't think she's trustworthy," Lorraine said. "She backstabbed Boris - if it were up to me, I'd bring Boris back. He's just personable and likeable.

"I feel like the rich are just out to get richer, and nobody is