What time is the first PMQs for Liz Truss? New prime minister to face Keir Starmer

Watch: Liz Truss appointed prime minister by the Queen

Liz Truss has officially become Britain's prime minister - and there is no time to enjoy her new title.

The inbox for the new leader of the Conservative Party and the country is packed, not least because the UK is in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis.

She will reportedly address the issue of soaring energy bills later this week when she is expected to announce on Thursday a price freeze on what Britons will pay for their gas and electricity.

But before that comes the small matter of Prime Minister's Questions, and a face-off with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Read more: Will you be better or worse off under Liz Truss?

This will be Truss's first chance as prime minister to demonstrate she can perform in the often gladiatorial arena of the House of Commons.

Throughout her Tory leadership campaign, her supporters kept insisting she is an enormously hard worker, but they were less keen to highlight her public speaking.

Speeches are not necessarily the new prime minister's strong suit, as evidenced by her endlessly-quoted delivery about pork markets and cheese imports at the 2014 Conservative Party conference.

And her first speech as Conservative leader on Monday - after it was announced she had defeated her rival Rishi Sunak in a vote among party members - will be largely remembered for the hushed silence when she paused to invite Tories to applaud outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson.

When is Liz Truss's first PMQs?

The first PMQs for the new prime minister will be at midday on Wednesday.

She will stand across the dispatch box as the leader of the country for the first time and go toe to toe with Sir Keir.

On paper, Sir Keir is the more accomplished orator, but Truss is likely to be roared on by her new cabinet and Tory backbenchers, eager to show a display of unity despite the deep divisions within the party.

What will come up in PMQs?

The new prime minister is under no illusions about the big issue she must address coming into the top job - the cost-of-living crisis.

Sir Keir is likely to criticise Truss for her failure to compile a detailed plan of action to tackle soaring energy bills during the Tory leadership campaign.

Read more: Most Brits don’t trust Liz Truss to deal with the cost-of-living crisis

He will also try to score political points by claiming Truss has stolen Labour's idea of a freeze on energy bills.

It has been reported that Truss will announce a financial package on Thursday that will freeze annual energy bills at about £2,500.

However, one economist warned that such a move could risk energy rationing and shortages this winter.

How can I watch Liz Truss's first PMQs?

The new prime minister's first PMQs will be live on the UK Parliament YouTube channel as well as on BBC News and Sky News from midday on Wednesday.

Watch: Sir Keir Starmer says Liz Truss 'not on the side of working people'