UK: Liz Truss resigns amidst continued backlash on economic plan, internal conflict

British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced this week that she would be stepping down as the country’s prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party. Truss’s resignation comes amidst internal conflicts in the party and the continued backlash over her economic plan.

Speaking outside Downing Street Thursday, Truss announced that she would be stepping down as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party after 45 days on the job. Truss said she was unable to deliver on her campaign pledges as she lost the faith of her party. Truss also said she would remain as prime minister until her successor is chosen.

“I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party,” said Truss in a statement.

Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservative Party’s 1922 Committee, said the election for prime minister should be done by October 28. The candidates will need the support of 100 Conservative members of parliament in order to be able to enter the race. Nominations will end on Monday after a vote by the Conservative MPs, and party members will decide the winner in an online vote.

The opposition Labour Party called for a general election to take place following Truss’s announcement of her resignation.

“The Tories cannot respond to their latest shambles by yet again simply clicking their fingers and shuffling the people at the top without the consent of the British people. We need a general election – now,” said Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in a statement.

Starmer added that the Conservative Party “has shown it no longer has a mandate to govern.” Truss replaced Boris Johnson, who announced his resignation in July.

Truss’s resignation follows the resignation of her interior minister Suella Braverman and an open clash between Conservative MPs over a vote on fracking for shale gas. Braverman resigned on Wednesday over a “technical” breach of government rules, making her the second senior minister who stepped down.

Braverman said she stepped down for violating rules when she sent an official document from her personal email account. Braverman used her resignation letter to criticize Truss, saying that she had concerns about the direction of Truss’s government.