Liz Truss resigns
On Thursday afternoon, Liz Truss resigned as prime minister after much debate and discussions from most of the UK. This comes 45 days after she was appointed prime minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation. This resulted in another Conservative leadership election.
“… I recognise, though, given the situation 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. This morning, I met the chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady. We've agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week. This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security. I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen. Thank you." Liz Truss
New Prime minister
With news of her resignation, many opposition parties have called for a general election, and that the public should have a choice in the next prime minister, and that the Conservatives shouldn’t be able to vote again.
Despite the criticisms, the leadership election took place with candidates needing 100 votes to be part of the contest. There were three candidates who soon became favourites to win Boris Johnson, Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak. However, both Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the election. This meant that if Rishi Sunak got over 100 votes he would automatically become the new Conservative leader and the new prime minister, which he did.
On Monday afternoon, it was announced that Rishi Sunak will be the new prime minister.
"The United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge," he said. "We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together." Rishi Sunak