Liz Truss has resigned in 44 days stay in Prime mister office surprised many
The shortest tenure of Prime Minister in UK politics shock departure comes following a political storm over her mini budget.
Truss’ resignation outside Downing Street, was due to the evaporation of her political authority, which triggered market crashes, followed by the loss of two key ministers, and eventually losing the confidence of majority of her own MPs.
Much of the budget had to be scrapped after a political backlash, and her Chancellor was fired.
Added to the fire Last night another major cabinet minister, the Home Secretary, also quit.
Truss came to power after Boris Johnson was removed from office after only two years as Prime Minister.
“I recognise though given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative party,” Truss said in her announcement.
Over a dozen Tory MPs have openly called for Truss’ resignation.
Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, Ruth Edwards, was the latest MP to call on Truss’ resignation.
In a letter published on ConservativeHome, she says it is “not responsible for the party to allow her to remain in power”.
Edwards also urged Truss to “step aside, go, and let someone who is up to the task take on the great privilege and responsibility of leading our great country and party”.
Truss recently apologised for her “mistakes” and vowed to remain prime minister, adding “I will lead the Conservatives into the next general election.”
“Cabinet ministers are rallying around Ms Truss but a growing number of her MPs believe her time is up,” the BBC reported, adding that “her attempts to reassert her authority were torpedoed by the resignation of the home secretary and farcical scenes after a Commons vote on Wednesday.”
Truss took on the role as UK prime minister on September 26.
This 44 days just stay put Truss as shortest-serving prime minister in UK history
Truss said she would continue as prime minister until a successor is chosen.
The economy soon after Truss was appointed Prime Minister slid into recession, Tobias Ellwood, head of parliament’s defence select committee, said Truss needed to run until October 31, the day when Hunt is due to set out how he will rebuild the public finances.
Any implosion before then, he said, would lead to yet more pressure on the pound.
With Liz Truss announcing her resignation , the effects are yet to be observed.
Candidates to replace Truss include former finance minister Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt, Ben Wallace, Boris Johnson or Suella Braverman.
British minister Penny Mordaunt on Friday launched her bid to replace Liz Truss as prime minister, becoming the first Conservative lawmaker to announce they are running.
Mordaunt, 49, has navigated the tenures of the four prime ministers she has served under, keeping her distance from Boris Johnson’s scandal-ridden time in power and staying in cabinet under Theresa May to make her support for Brexit felt.
This is the second time she is running for the top job, after just missing out on the final two in the contest to become the leader of the ruling Conservative Party earlier this year. That race saw Truss defeat former finance minister Rishi Sunak.
“I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister – to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE (General Election),” Mordaunt said on Twitter.
“I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest.”
Bookmakers place Mordaunt third, behind Sunak and Johnson, who are also expected to enter the race to succeed Truss.
Under Truss, she was appointed leader of the House of Commons, a role which also by chance gave her a higher profile job as “Lord President of the Privy Council” – meaning she presided over the formal announcement of Queen Elizabeth’s death and the proclamation of the new King Charles.
