British Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced her resignation. This after only 6 weeks in office. The Conservative politician appeared in front of the camera with her husband on Thursday during a short press conference in Downing Street in London.
Liz Truss announces her resignation
“I have spoken to the king to let him know that I am stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party,” Truss said. She wants to remain as prime minister until a successor is found. According to the outgoing head of government, this process should take place in the coming week.
The drastic step was not unexpected. The 47-year-old had been fighting for her job since she caused financial chaos with planned tax breaks and had to turn around.
About 24 hours before her resignation, she had protested in the British House of Commons that she did not want to give up and that she was “a fighter”. While pointing to the difficult economic times and political instability across the continent, she also admitted that under the current circumstances, she could no longer carry out her vision of radical economic growth.
who’s coming now?
It is unclear who will succeed her. There was initially no clear favorite or clear favorites. The recently appointed Minister of Finance Jeremy Hunt reportedly declined a candidacy outright. ex-minister of finance Rishi Sunak was in a second round in the summer to find the ex-prime minister’s successor Boris Johnson inferior to truss. But he is considered controversial in the group. The minister responsible for parliamentary questions is also considered a possible alternative Penny Mordaunt and Minister of Defence Ben Wallace.
Explosive: the scandal-plagued British ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to run for the post again.
The Times and Telegraph newspapers reported this on Thursday, citing anonymous sources, after Prime Minister Liz Truss, who had come under pressure, earlier announced her resignation. Johnson believes the candidacy is in the “national interest,” according to the Times.
Johnson, who had to resign in early July after the ‘Partygate’ affair and many other scandals, still has a loyal following in parts of the party. In polls among party members, Johnson has been doing well again lately.
decision next week
The conservative Tory group wants a new British Prime Minister in office by October 31.
This was announced in London on Thursday by Graham Brady, the leader of the powerful 1922 Conservative Group committee in the House of Commons.
The week-long internal party election process for Truss’ successor is expected to end next Friday (October 28). Brady said the party’s grassroots should also be involved in the process. What that should look like was initially unclear. Later on Thursday afternoon, the committee planned to release further details. “We are well aware of the need in the national interest to get this done very quickly and clearly,” Brady said.
Over the summer, finding a successor to scandal-plagued ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson dragged on for weeks. The two candidates – Liz Truss and her rival Rishi Sunak – held campaign rallies across the country after the faction previously named the two finalists in the contest.
This time, ex-treasury secretary Rishi Sunak and cabinet members Penny Mordaunt and Ben Wallace are again considered as possible candidates.
Labor wants new elections
Labor leader Keir Starmer has called for immediate general elections. He has announced that he is ready to take over the affairs of the British government.
“We are ready to form a government” Starmer told Sky News on Thursday. Like other opposition parties, the Social Democratic politician is calling for immediate new elections.
The current chaos at the top of the British government is not just a “tory soap opera” but means major economic damage to the British economy and a huge loss of image for the entire country, Starmer said. The PvdA is currently miles ahead of the conservatives of the resigned Prime Minister Liz Truss in polls and could count on an absolute majority in elections.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon also called for a general election. “A new election is now a democratic imperative,” the Scottish National Party SNP leader wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
It became clear
Speculation about an imminent resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss had accelerated earlier.
The Prime Minister met on Thursday afternoon with Graham Brady, leader of the Conservative Group’s powerful 1922 Committee. The body is responsible for the election and deselection of party leaders. If Brady feels the Prime Minister is no longer trusted by her faction, she should resign. According to the government, the meeting came about at the request of Truss.
(aeg/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
