London politics latest LIVE: Tory candidates need support of 100 MPs to have chance of replacing Liz Truss

Liz Truss announced on Thursday she was quitting after just 44 days in No10, becoming Britain’s shortest serving Prime Minister.

Speaking in Downing Street at roughly 1.30pm, she told the nation she was resigning after an open revolt by Tory MPs against her chaotic and crisis-hit premiership.

She announced she was going after holding talks with Sir Graham Brady, chair of the influential 1922 committee of Conservative MPs, and her closest allies, Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey and Tory chairman Jake Berry.

The Conservatives now faced a race to choose a new leader, with the party bitterly divided. Any candidate needs to be backed by 100 MPs by 2pm on Monday.

Ms Truss’s decision to stand down means she becomes the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history.

The expected candidates:

Boris Johnson – said by allies to be interested in running and returning to power, currently on holiday in the Caribbean

Rishi Sunak – The runner up to Liz Truss is widely expected to go for the top job again

Suella Braverman – Arguably her resignation brought about Liz Truss’s demise and popular in the right wing of the party

Penny Mordaunt – A possible contender as a unity candidate and is seen as a safe pair of hands

Kemi Badenoch – Relatively inexperienced but seen as a rising star in the Conservative Parliamentary Party

Confirmed to not be running:

Jeremy Hunt, James Cleverly, Michael Gove

Boris Johnson’s father says he hopes his son will run to be Tory leader

21:48 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson’s father Stanley has said he hopes his son will run to become prime minister again.

Mr Johnson senior told TalkTV’s Piers Morgan Uncensored: “Frankly I have no idea whether Boris is going to be a candidate in this election, no idea at all, but I think he has a very strong record to be considered as a viable candidate and I very much hope he will let his name go forward.”

Despite his son’s divisive reputation, Mr Johnson insisted that he could be a unifying force within the Conservative Party if he won.

Story continues

“Boris is my elder son. He’s going to be crucial in uniting these warring parts of the Tory party,” he said.

Four in five back Truss’s resignation

21:21 , Daniel Keane

Four in five Britons back Liz Truss’s resignation, according to a survey.

Some 79 per cent of people believed the Prime Minister was right to resign, YouGov polls show.

The figures mirror dire polling results for the Tories, with Labour holding a lead of over 30 points in multiple polls.

Irish premier requests a swift Tory leadership to bring stability

20:55 , John Dunne

The Irish premier has asked that a new British Prime Minister be selected quickly in order to bring about stability in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation.

In recent days and weeks, Irish ministers had emphasised how Ireland is closely linked to the UK economy and the need for stability ahead of what is expected to be a difficult winter.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin told reporters in Brussels that “we would like to see the UK system, within its capacity, to be in a position to have a successor selected as quickly as possible”.

Nadine Dorries says she will backing Boris Johnson and that he may enter leadership race with social media post

20:26 , John Dunne

MP Nadine Dorries, who served in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, said she would back a bid by him to regain the keys to No 10.

She said that she has spoken to Johnson, who is on holiday in the Caribbean, and that “you’ll need to find out on social media” suggesting he was preparing to officially announce standing in the conservative leadership race.

Minister claims Labour will struggle when Tories get ‘strong new leader’

20:11 , Daniel Keane

A minister has claimed that the Labour party will struggle to offer a vision to the country once the Tories get a “strong new leader”.

Paul Scully, levelling up minister, said: “I think Keir Starmer and the Labour Party will be found wanting because they can chip away, as an opposition would do, but we’ve got to deliver for people and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything from the Labour Party that suggests they’ve got any vision.”

On whether the Tories can recover in the polls and win the next election, he added: “We’ve certainly got a fight on our hands but it all comes back to delivering because people want a strong leadership that will actually show the support for their energy prices and for the cost-of-living pressures.

“We’ve got two years to show that we’ve tackled that, we’ve got the medium-term growth to get inflation out of our system but then be able to give people hope for the next five years to meet their aspirations, that’s how you win the next election.”

UK-Irish relations ‘back to instability again’

19:52 , Daniel Keane

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney has spoken of his frustration at “being back to instability again” in terms of relations with the UK following the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss.

“The meetings between Liz Truss and the Taoiseach were also much better in terms of tone than we had seen for some time,” Mr Coveney told RTE.

“The frustration for us is we are back to instability again, I had the privilege of being foreign minister for five years, in that time I have dealt with six secretaries of state for Northern Ireland, five foreign secretaries and now it’s going to be four prime ministers.

“And we’re trying to get complex issues negotiated and we’re trying to find compromises in a very heated and difficult political environment, particularly in the context of Northern Ireland.

“From an Irish perspective this isn’t really about the personalities, it’s about stability and about having a partner to negotiate with that can help us solve problems together.”

UK will continue to support Ukraine, says minister

19:32 , Daniel Keane

Defence minister Baroness Goldie has issued reassurance that, whoever takes over from Liz Truss as prime minister, the UK will remain steadfast in its resolve to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion.

When asked in the House of Lords whether she could provide certainty on this issue, Lady Goldie said: “Let me say, without a shadow of a doubt, yes.

“We have demonstrated, not just our political and our national will to support a country in peril, in need, and the victim of a quite outrageous breach of international law with this illegal incursion, we have demonstrated by deed what we are prepared to do by ourselves and in conjunction with Nato partners and with other allies across the globe as we assist Ukraine in defending itself against this really quite appalling and totally unjustified invasion.”

Shapps suggests he will continue as Home Secretary

19:14 , Daniel Keane

New Home Secretary Grant Shapps has suggested he will stay on in the role despite the departure of Prime Minister Liz Truss, while also ruling himself out of the leadership contest.

He tweeted: “It’s a tremendous privilege to be leading the Home Office in its task of protecting the British people. Government goes on, despite the current political upheavals, and I will remain fully focused on the job as we select the next PM.”

He previously launched a failed campaign to become leader over the summer.

Senior Tory says Boris Johnson should ‘go back to the beach’

19:10 , Daniel Keane

A senior Tory MP has urged Boris Johnson to “go back to the beach” amid reports he is set to cut his holiday short and launch a bid to become Prime Minister.

Former cabinet minister David Davis, one of the chief critics of Mr Johnson in the final days of his administration, said the country had too many “technical problems” that would not suit Mr Johnson’s political skillset.

Asked by LBC for his response to Mr Johnson’s alleged interest in returning to No10, he said: “I’d say, go back to the beach, frankly. Look, the sorts of problems we have to solve.

“We’ve got really big technical economic problems to solve. He’s not qualified for that.

“We’ve got really big follow-on problems after COVID on health care. That’s not really his is area anyway, you know. He’s a great exponent of other people’s work, and that’s not going to be feasible.

“The Prime Minister we get now is going to be front and centre, with the public, with the markets, with the unions, you know, all those things, difficult technical problems”, adding: “That’s not Boris’s area of skill.”

Tory MP backs Sunak

19:01 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MP Richard Holden (North West Durham) has given his backing to Rishi Sunak.

He told the PA news agency: “I think it has been difficult for everybody and I didn’t support Liz during the leadership but I was delighted when she offered me a junior position in the Government and wanted to help out and see her succeed.

“It has become clear that that’s just not possible and on a personal level I’m really saddened for her and I hope she’s going to be alright, this is a really tough thing to have gone through over the past few days and weeks.

“But more broadly the party’s now going to look to the future, we’re going to have a very quick leadership election, which is what’s in the national interest.

“I think there’s a couple of things for me which are overriding and those are basically competence and economic credibility.

“That’s at the core of what we need to deliver now, it’s what my constituents want to see… which is why I’m backing Rishi (Sunak).”

Liz Truss urged to turn down £115,000 ex-PM’s allowance after 44-day reign

18:49 , Daniel Keane

Liz Truss is facing calls to turn down the allowance of up to £115,000 a year she will be entitled to as a former prime minister.

The Liberal Democrats said it will leave a “bitter taste” if she claims the payment in the wake of her brief and tumultuous tenure in Downing Street.

The public costs duty allowance was introduced in 1991 in the wake of the resignation of Margaret Thatcher to support former prime ministers in their public duties after they leave office.

However Lib Dem cabinet office spokeswoman Christine Jardine said it would be “unconscionable” if Ms Truss were to receive it after such a short time in office.

“Liz Truss will forever be known as the 50-day prime minister. There is no way that she should be permitted to access the same £115,000-a-year for life fund as her recent predecessors – all of whom served for well over two years,” she said.

“To make matters worse, Truss’s legacy is an economic disaster – for which the Conservatives are making taxpayers foot the bill.”

‘We have to crack on and deliver’, says minister

18:33 , Daniel Keane

Reacting to Liz Truss announcing she will resign as Prime Minister, levelling up minister Paul Scully told the PA news agency: “It’s the right thing to do, it’s sad, it’s always sad when you see someone that’s worked so hard to get to her position try to deliver for the country, not be able to bring the party together and do that final push to support people.

“But we now need to move on, we are here not for our own individual careers, we are here for the country and the people we represent and that’s what we’ve got to crack on and do now.”

On who he wants to succeed Ms Truss, Mr Scully said: “To be honest I genuinely don’t have a person, what I want to see is exactly the same as I did last time, someone that can communicate well, deliver.

“But also they need to unify the party, they need to show people out of the Westminster bubble that there is strong leadership, that we can have economic stability.”

Loyal MPs ‘ringing around to take soundings for Boris Johnson’

18:16 , Daniel Keane

MPs loyal to Boris Johnson are ringing around to take soundings for the former Prime Minister, according to the Telegraph.

One said that the “campaign is go”.

Earlier today sources close to Mr Johnson said he was considering whether to run to be Tory leader – just 3 months after resigning.

Broadcast event to be arranged for leadership contest

17:59 , Daniel Keane

Sir Jake Berry said Conservative HQ will be working with broadcasters to arrange one broadcast event so members can hear from the final two candidates before they vote.

Sir Graham Brady said the requirement to get 100 nominations should be achievable by any candidate with a realistic chance of winning.

He said it would mean a maximum of three candidates on the ballot paper for MPs to vote on.

“We fixed a high threshold but a threshold that should be achievable by any serious candidate who has a prospect of going through,” Sir Graham said.

Watch: Truss announces resignation

17:58 , Daniel Keane

Raab announces backing for Sunak

17:41 , Daniel Keane

Former minister Dominic Raab has given his backing to Rishi Sunak.

He tweeted: “I back @RishiSunak to be our next PM. He has the plan & credibility to:

– Help get inflation down & deliver sustainable tax cuts over time; and

– Unite the Conservatives by bringing the best talent into govt to deliver for the British people.

Online vote if two members make it through parliamentary stages

17:39 , Daniel Keane

Conservative Party chairman Jake Berry said there would be an online vote for members if two candidates made it through the parliamentary stages.

Tory leader candidates will need at least 100 nominations

17:35 , Daniel Keane

Candidates to replace Liz Truss as Tory leader will need at least 100 nominations from Conservative MPs, 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady has said.

Foreign Sec announces fresh measures over use of Iranian drones in Ukraine

17:29 , Daniel Keane

Away from Downing Street, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has just announced fresh sanctions over the use of Iranian drones in Ukraine.

He said: “Iran’s support for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine is further proof of its destabilising role in global security.

“We are sanctioning the suppliers of drones used for the cowardly strikes on civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine.”

Tories ‘could use PM’s campaigning skills’, says minister

17:11 , Daniel Keane

With speculation about Boris Johnson planning a comeback, Mr Jenrick said there was an argument that the Conservative Party “is in such a difficult place that his formidable campaigning skills are required once again”.

But he added: “On the other hand, his premiership came to an end for a reason, which is that there were serious questions about competence, credibility, and ethics and does the Conservative Party want to go back to that?”

Mr Jenrick also suggested that whoever becomes prime minister should keep Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor “to provide some stability”.

Tory party could face ‘extinction’ with wrong move, says minister

17:07 , Daniel Keane

The Tory party faces “extinction” if it makes a mess of the leadership contest to replace Liz Truss, health minister Robert Jenrick warned.

He told The News Agents podcast: “This isn’t an ordinary leadership contest. It’s more extraordinary than the one we had in the summer.

“If we get this wrong, the country will face a very serious period of further instability and the Conservative Party will lose the next general election, potentially cease to exist.”

Climate minister says he was ‘proud to serve’ under Truss

16:51 , Daniel Keane

Climate minister Graham Stuart said he had been “proud” to serve Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

In a statement, the junior minister said: “I am sorry to see the Prime Minister resign today.

“When she entered Downing Street, the Prime Minister set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy to make our country an aspiration nation. During her time in office she delivered on her promise of reversing the National Insurance increase and introduced the Energy Price Guarantee Bill to give families and businesses the support they need with their energy bills.

“I have been proud to serve during her Premiership as Minister for Climate working to deliver the Government’s positive vision to achieve our aim of making the UK Net Zero by 2050.

“I will support the next leader of the Conservative Party in their work to provide security and stability for the country, and I wish the Prime Minister and her family the very best for the future.”

Shadow minister brands reports of Johnson’s return ‘staggering’

16:42 , Daniel Keane

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth said reports Boris Johnson could run to replace Liz Truss are “staggering”, telling the PA news agency: “It just beggars belief Conservative MPs think that would be an appropriate thing to do now.

“And I think it reinforces the case for a general election because frankly the idea that when people have had enough, when people are struggling, the idea that Tory MPs should stitch it up in corridors and deny the public any say in this whatsoever is utterly unacceptable.

“It’s why we are making our demands for a general election now.”

Michael Fabricant publishes letter calling for the return of Boris Johnson

16:28 , Bill Mcloughlin

Daily Star’s head of lettuce outlasts Liz Truss’s time as Prime Minister

16:14 , Bill Mcloughlin

A head of lettuce has outlasted Liz Truss following the Prime Minister’s resignation after just 44 days in office.

Not only is Ms Truss now the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history, but she also failed to remain in office longer than a head of lettuce stayed fresh.

On October 14, amid the chaos in the Conservative Party, the Daily Star began a live stream that hoped to answer the question “Will Liz Truss still be Prime Minister within the 10-day shelf-life of a lettuce?”

Thousands tuned in to follow the progress of the lettuce–styled with googly eyes and a blonde wig — next to a framed photo of Ms Truss.

Read our story here.

Theresa May: MPs must be prepared to compromise

16:05 , Bill Mcloughlin

Former Prime Minister Theresa May said Tory MPs must be prepared to compromise to ensure there is a “sensible, competent government”.

She said: “The Prime Minister is right to provide a roadmap for an orderly transition.

“MPs must now be prepared to compromise.

“It is our duty to provide sensible, competent government at this critical moment for our country.”

‘Liz Truss has crashed our economy,’ says Ed Davey

15:48 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told the PA news agency: “Liz Truss trashed our economy and before her Boris Johnson failed our country.

“The Conservatives have shown time and time again that they are not fit to govern our great country.

“We don’t need another Conservative prime minister lurching from crisis to crisis, letting the British people down, increasing their mortgages, not tackling the economic problems.

“The only way we are going to sort this out is if the Conservative MPs for once do their patriotic duty and work with the opposition to get the general election our country needs to let the British people have their say.”

‘Wishful thinking’ to say Boris Johnson could come back as PM

15:37 , Bill Mcloughlin

Justin Tomlinson said it was “wishful thinking” to imagine that Boris Johnson could return as prime minister.

The Tory MP, who described himself as someone who had strongly supported the former prime minister in the past, told Sky News: “I just think it’s too soon. I was there supporting him to the very end but he did lose the confidence of the majority of our colleagues.

“I thought that was wrong. But you have to respect that.

“I don’t think a sufficient enough time has probably passed for the party to then unite behind him and for me this now is about us, frankly, being grown up, being pragmatic and putting the country first.”

Joe Biden releases statement on PM’s resignation

15:31 , Bill Mcloughlin

US president Joe Biden said in a statement: “The United States and the United Kingdom are strong Allies and enduring friends – and that fact will never change.

“I thank Prime Minister Liz Truss for her partnership on a range of issues including holding Russia accountable for its war against Ukraine.

“We will continue our close cooperation with the U.K. government as we work together to meet the global challenges our nations face.”

Minister calls for Boris Johnson to return

15:24 , Bill Mcloughlin

Government minister Sir James Duddridge said it was time for a comeback by Boris Johnson.

Tweeting with the hashtag #bringbackboris, he said: “I hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing.”

Sir James had served as a parliamentary private secretary to Mr Johnson when he was in No 10.

More unrest following Boris Johnson rumours

15:15 , Bill Mcloughlin

Boris Johnson should be blocked from standing, say Lib Dems

15:06 , Bill Mcloughlin

Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem’s deputy leader, said: “The fact that Conservative MPs are even considering putting Boris Johnson back in No10 shows how out of touch they really are. They think there’s one rule for them and another for everyone else.

“Boris Johnson was forced to resign in disgrace after countless lies, scandals and failures. He shattered public trust in the government and plunged the UK into a political crisis. He must never be allowed near Downing Street again.

“The future of our country should be in the hands of voters, not the Conservative MPs who have caused all this chaos.”

Liz Truss: A timeline of the shortest premiership in British history

15:00 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister after just 44 days in office.

She quit on Thursday amid mounting pressure as she lost the confidence of Tory MPs after her chaotic and crisis-hit premiership.

She entered office on September 6 after beating Rishi Sunak in the final two of the Tory leadership race that followed Boris Johnson being forced from office in July.

But her hold on power unravelled at speed in the wake of her disastrous mini-budget, read our story here.

Kemi Badenoch expected to stand in the leadership contest

14:54 , Bill Mcloughlin

Kemi Badenoch, International Trade Secretary, is expected to stand in the upcoming leadership contest, according to reports.

A source close to Ms Badenoch, told Sky News’s Sam Coates, said: “Now that the prime minister has announced her resignation, the party must unite around a new leader who restores trust in politics and delivers good government for the British people

“Kemi is in conversations with colleagues about how best to achieve this.”

Boris Johnson may stand in leadership election – report

14:47 , Bill Mcloughlin

According to The Times, Boris Johnson may join the upcoming leadership contest, just months after he stood down.

Tribute issued to PM

14:44 , Bill Mcloughlin

‘Bring back Boris,’ says MP

14:38 , Bill Mcloughlin

Emmanuel Macron reacts to PM’s resignation

14:37 , Bill Mcloughlin

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has reacted with shock to the sudden resignation of Liz Truss, saying he had been “building a working relationship” with her.

Mr Macron said: “On a personal level, I’m always sad to see a colleague go.

“I’ve had the opportunity on many occasions to meet Liz Truss and we’ve been exchanging only this week.”

Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, Mr Macron added: “We were building a working relationship, and I wish in any case that Great Britain will find stability again and moves on, as soon as possible. It’s good for us, and it’s good for our Europe.”

Emmanuel Macron reacts to PM’s resignation

14:37 , Bill Mcloughlin

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has reacted with shock to the sudden resignation of Liz Truss, saying he had been “building a working relationship” with her.

Mr Macron said: “On a personal level, I’m always sad to see a colleague go.

“I’ve had the opportunity on many occasions to meet Liz Truss and we’ve been exchanging only this week.”

Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, Mr Macron added: “We were building a working relationship, and I wish in any case that Great Britain will find stability again and moves on, as soon as possible. It’s good for us, and it’s good for our Europe.”

Tory MP blames Kwasi Kwarteng for PM’s resignation

14:34 , Bill Mcloughlin

Backbench Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has blamed Kwasi Kwarteng for Liz Truss’s downfall.

He wrote on Twitter: “I feel so sorry for Liz Truss and the nation.

“If it hadn’t been Kwasi Kwarteng’s grand experiment (the mini-Budget), this would not have happened.

“I wish Liz and her team in No10 well for the future.”

Conservative Party must return to 2019 manifesto promises, says MP

14:29 , Bill Mcloughlin

Douglas Ross: We must now move forward quickly

14:23 , Bill Mcloughlin

Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, has said the party must now move forward as quickly as possible.

He added: “We must now move forward quickly with the election of a new Leader and Prime Minister to restore stability for the good of the country.

“It is vital that the Conservative and Unionist Party unites and continues the hard work of getting the whole of the UK through the big challenges we face.”

Graham Brady: We’re conscious in resolving this quickly

14:20 , Bill Mcloughlin

Speaking to reporters, chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, has said he understands the need to appoint a new leader as quickly as possible.

He added that this “isn’t a situation” he hoped to see.

Asked if there will be two candidate, he says: “If there is only one candidate, there is only one candidate.”

Liz Truss becomes shortest serving UK PM in history

14:16 , Bill Mcloughlin

Following her resignation, Liz Truss has now become the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister in history.

Ms Truss was in the role for 44 days, 75 fewer than George Canning who died while in office in 1827.

Penny Mordaunt’s leadership campaign restarts

14:12 , Bill Mcloughlin

Bookies place Rishi Sunak as favourite to be new Prime Minister

14:05 , Bill Mcloughlin

Following Liz Truss’s resignation, Betfair has placed former Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, as the favourite to succeed her with odds of 11/10.

He is followed by Penny Mordaunt at 7/2, Ben Wallace at 8/1, Jeremy Hunt 9/1, Boris Johnson 13/1, Theresa May 16/1, Michael Gove 31/1, Grant Shapps 35/1, and Suella Braverman at 55/1.

‘They have caused a crisis,’ says Emily Thornberry

14:01 , Bill Mcloughlin

Reacting to Liz Truss’s resignation, shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry told PA: “We should have a general election – it is the only thing that we should have.

“They can’t patch this up, they have caused a crisis.

“This crisis was made in Downing Street, working people are paying the price and we need a government that people can trust.

“The only way we’re going to get any order or sense is to have a Labour government. We should have a general election, let the people choose.”

Nicola Sturgeon backs calls for general election

13:55 , Bill Mcloughlin

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a general election was a “democratic imperative” after the resignation of the Prime Minister.

“There are no words to describe this utter shambles adequately,” the First Minister said on Twitter.

“It’s beyond hyperbole – & parody. Reality tho is that ordinary people are paying the price.

“The interests of the Tory party should concern no-one right now. A general election is now a democratic imperative.”

Pound rises after PM’s resignation

13:54 , Bill Mcloughlin

Penny Mordaunt quizzed on the state of the Government

13:50 , Bill Mcloughlin

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said she would “keep calm and carry on” and encouraged others to do the same.

Asked in the Commons about Liz Truss’s resignation and the state of the Government, Ms Mordaunt said: “I am going to keep calm and carry on – and I would suggest everyone else do the same.”

Jeremy Hunt rules himself out of leadership bid

13:49 , Bill Mcloughlin

According to Sky News, current Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt will not run in the upcoming leadership race.

Keir Starmer calls for general election

13:47 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sir Keir Starmer has called for an immediate general election in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation.

The Labour leader said: “The Conservative Party has shown it no longer has a mandate to govern.

“After 12 years of Tory failure, the British people deserve so much better than this revolving door of chaos. In the last few years, the Tories have set record-high taxation, trashed our institutions and created a cost-of-living crisis. Now, they have crashed the economy so badly that people are facing £500 a month extra on their mortgages. The damage they have done will take years to fix.

“Each one of these crises was made in Downing Street but paid for by the British public. Each one has left our country weaker and worse off.

“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. They do not have a mandate to put the country through yet another experiment; Britain is not their personal fiefdom to run how they wish.

“The British public deserve a proper say on the country’s future. They must have the chance to compare the Tories’ chaos with Labour’s plans to sort out their mess, grow the economy for working people and rebuild the country for a fairer, greener future. We must have a chance at a fresh start. We need a general election – now.”

‘Cannot deliver on mandate’

13:40 , Bill Mcloughlin

(REUTERS)

Liz Truss said she came in at a time of “instability” but added she “cannot deliver the mandate promised”.

Truss to remain as PM until successor is found

13:37 , Will Mata

Liz Truss is resigning as leader of the Conservative Party. She will remain in post until a successor is found. She has been prime minister for a month and a half.

Truss to resign

13:36 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liz Truss will her resignation as Prime Minister after holding “crisis talks” with the chairman of the 1922 Committee.

Ms Truss said she was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change the situation facing the UK but that she understands she can no longer deliver her mandate for growth.

“We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.

“We set out a vision for a low-tax, high-growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit,” she said.

Truss speech about to begin

13:35 , Will Mata

The prime minister has come out from Number 10 and is about to make a statement.

Ruth Edwards makes it 15 to call for PM to quit

13:27 , Sarah Harvey

Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards has written to call for Liz Truss to stand down as leader.

She wrote on the ConservativeHome site: “The Prime Minister has shown breath-taking economic and political incompetence during her short tenure in office. It is not responsible for the party to allow her to remain in power. Not when her actions can have such detrimental consequences for our constituents.”

Downing Street statement at 1.30pm

13:19 , Will Mata

The prime minister is expected to make a statement at 1.30pm, it has been reported.

A lectern is being set up outside 10 Downing Street.

Convoy of cars drives by / Mordaunt praises Jeremy Hunt

13:18 , Will Mata

A police officer knocks on the door to 10 Downing Street (AP)

A convoy of black cars flanked by police motorbikes has sped past the back entrance of No 10.

The cavalcade drove by while Prime Minister Liz Truss holds talks inside with 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady.

Also on Thursday afternoon, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said the “country does need stability and it needs calm” before praising new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Responding to criticism from Labour, Ms Mordaunt told the Commons: “The country does need stability and it needs calm and I’m glad to say that is the effect the Chancellor is having.

“Market functioning has improved, borrowing costs have been lowered and the pound is strengthening, but there is more to do.

“Despite the very volatile global economic conditions, the economy remains resilient.

Guru-Murthy taken off air for a week

13:11 , Will Mata

Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy has been taken off-air for a week after he swore at Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker following an interview, the broadcaster said.

Off-air footage emerged of the newsreader calling the Conservative frontbencher a “c***” after they chatted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Kit Malthouse ignored questions about the Prime Minister’s future as he arrived for a meeting in Whitehall.

Asked if it was all over for Liz Truss as he entered the Cabinet Office he said: “I’m going in to talk about schools.”

Hartlepool MP demands resignation of Liz Truss

13:04 , Will Mata

Tory Jill Mortimer has demanded the exit of Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

The Hartlepool MP shared an image of her letter of no confidence on Facebook, which she has sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady.

She added: “Yesterday, I tried to get called in PMQs to ask Liz Truss for an assurance of support for our town and our promises.

“Sadly I was not called and the deteriorating situation throughout the day left me with no choice but to submit a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister to Sir Graham Brady.”

‘Taking the temperature’

13:01 , Sarah Harvey

Prime Minister Liz Truss has met 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady (PA Wire)

A Downing Street source said Liz Truss invited Sir Graham Brady to No 10 as part of a “taking the temperature” exercise, gauging the mood of Tory MPs.

Sir Graham was seen entering No 10 through a back door of Number 10 for what was said to be a hastily scheduled meeting.

Government deciding what action to take against rebelling Tory MPs

12:49 , Will Mata

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg previously accused fracking opponents of ‘hysteria’ and ‘ludditery’ (PA Wire)

Government whips are still “considering what action to take” against Tory MPs who abstained in the chaotic fracking vote, Downing Street has said.

Asked whether this meant they are deciding whether to remove the party whip from Tory rebels, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “I can’t get into party discipline and whether it’s that binary. Again, it’s really not my area.”

Amid confusion over whether Liz Truss voted, the official said: “She did”.

Therese Coffey arrives: No press conference today

12:44 , Will Mata

Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey arrives (PA)

Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey has arrived at Downing Street via the back entrance amid talks inside Number 10 between Prime Minister Liz Truss and chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady.

There are no plans for Liz Truss to hold a press conference or to make any more changes to her Cabinet on Thursday, Downing Street has said.

Asked if any more changes to the Cabinet or ministerial position are expected, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “No plans for that currently.

“There are no plans for any further reshuffle at this time.”

He also said “there are no plans” for Ms Truss to speak publicly.

Liz Truss will remain PM beyond October 31, says spokesman

12:20 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liz Truss will remain Prime Minister beyond the fiscal statement on October 31, her spokesman has said.

Speaking to reporters, the spokesman added: “No plans for any change. The Prime Minister will continue beyond the 31st.”

No10, however, refused to confirm that the Government will stick to the Conservative Party’s manifesto pledge to reduce net migration overall.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The public wants us to control immigration and ensure we have a system that works in the UK is interests. That is our guiding principle but I’m not going to pre-empt further discussion.”

Pressed further, the official told reporters: “We do not want to see uncontrolled increases in low-skilled migrants coming into the country.

“What we are talking about is how we strike a balance to ensure that we have control over high-skilled migrants coming into the country to ensure our economy is supported and indeed can grow. Decisions on that have not been taken.”

Liz Truss meeting with chair of 1922 Committee

11:54 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liz Truss is currently meeting with the chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives Sir Graham Brady, Downing Street has said.

The meeting comes as 14 MPs have publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign.

Keir Starmer: Time to put trickle-down nonsense to bed

11:48 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sir Keir Starmer said it is time to “put this Tory trickle-down nonsense back in its box”.

“The single most important thing I can do for working people is to make sure we win the next election and get a Labour government,” the Labour leader told the annual TUC conference.

“I will not let this be an era of Tory chaos, stagnation, attacks on working people.

“This can’t go on any longer. This cannot be a re-run of the 1980s. That’s what they want.

“Liz Truss has torn away the veil – they aren’t even pretending anymore.”

He vowed that a Labour government would “put this Tory trickle-down nonsense back in its box once and for all”.

But, he warned, “the Tories will not give up on power, that’s not who they are”.

‘We face a battle for the soul of our country,’ says Keir Starmer

11:42 , Bill Mcloughlin

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer addressed the Trades Unions Congress in Brighton by making reference to the political chaos in Westminster.

“With everything going on, I’m a bit nervous to turn my phone off for half an hour or 45 minutes,” he said.

The Labour leader added: “While politics is always about choices, the choice now is as stark as it gets.

“We face a battle for the soul of our country”.

He said the Labour Party is “dedicated to building an economy that works for working people.”

“It’s not just the privileged few, the Tories are so wrong about that.”

MPs must demand return of Boris Johnson, says Nadine Dorries

11:17 , Bill Mcloughlin

Suella Braverman no longer held the confidence of the PM, says minister

11:00 , Bill Mcloughlin

A Cabinet Office minister has suggested Conservative former Home Secretary Suella Braverman no longer held the confidence of Liz Truss.

Responding to an urgent question in the Commons on Ms Braverman’s departure as Home Secretary, Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “My right honourable friend the member for Fareham resigned yesterday following a contravention of the ministerial code relating to a breach of Cabinet confidentiality and the rules relating to the security of Government business.

“The Prime Minister has made clear the importance of maintaining high standards in public life and our expectation that ministers should uphold these standards as set out in the ministerial code.

“All ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in light of the code and for justifying their actions and conduct to Parliament and the public.

“However, ministers only remain in office so long as they retain the confidence of the Prime Minister.

“She is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.”

Yvette Cooper: This is a disgrace

10:53 , Bill Mcloughlin

Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper has called the current Government a “disgrace” during her urgent question in the House of Commons this morning.

Asking for clarity on Suella Braverman’s decision to step down on Wednesday, Ms Cooper added: “Is there anything that is actually agreed on in Cabinet on home affairs?

“What we know is the former Home Secretary has been running her previous leadership campaign, whilst the current Home Secretary is too busy to come to the House because he’s doing his spreadsheet on the numbers for whoever he is backing to come next.”

The list of MPs who have called for the PM to resign

10:45 , Bill Mcloughlin

As of 10.30am, 14 Tory MPs had publicly called for Liz Truss to go, while dozens more were voicing their concerns about the Prime Minister’s position in private.

Those who have publicly said the PM should resign are: Gary Streeter, Sheryll Murray, Henry Smith, Steve Double, Maria Caulfield, Miriam Cates, Johnny Mercer, William Wragg, Sir Charles Walker, Angela Richardson, Crispin Blunt, Andrew Bridgen, Jamie Wallis, and Matthew Offord.

Tory party ‘can’t delay’ in replacing PM, says MP

10:36 , Bill Mcloughlin

Crawley MP Henry Smith has told Times Radio that the Tory Party “can’t delay” in replacing Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

“I think we need new leadership….In a time of uncertainty, we need solid leadership and I’m afraid I’m very sorry to say that has been distinctly lacking from Downing Street in the last several weeks.

“I think she should do the honourable thing and say that her premiership has made the wrong calls not just once or twice, but consistently since coming into office almost two months ago. And that now it’s time for strong leadership to come back to this country, the sort of strong leadership we did actually see under Boris Johnson’s administration.

“I’ve been a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for the past two and a half years. So I saw her in action scrutinising her when she was a Foreign Secretary. And I have to say, I did fear that she may be out of her depth as Prime Minister.

I think events will probably gain momentum in the coming hours and days… I think members should be involved as much as possible in choosing the leader. But as you have pointed out, and many others, time is pressing, and we can’t delay.”

MP unsure if she still has the whip

10:21 , Bill Mcloughlin

Siobhan Baillie says she does not know if she is still a Tory MP after refusing to vote with the Governinment on the fracking motion last night.

“Environmental issues are hugely important to my constituents,” she said. “I abstained on the vote last night, knowing the potential consequences.”

She added that she had not been told whether she still had that Whip but she “hoped so”.

Suella Braverman won’t give resignation statement today

10:12 , Bill Mcloughlin

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman is not expected to make a resignation statement in the Commons today, a spokesman for her has said.

Cabinet ministers arrive at Downing Street

09:56 , Bill Mcloughlin

Cabinet members have arrived at No10 this morning as calls for the Prime Minister to resign continue to rise.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Speaker calls for investigation into chaotic scenes before vote

09:49 , Bill Mcloughlin

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has announced an investigation by Parliament’s authorities into the chaos surrounding Wednesday night’s vote on fracking.

Speaking in the Commons on Thursday morning, he told MPs: “I’ve asked the Serjeant of Arms to investigate the incident and report back to me.”

But he added: “I want this to be a House in which while we may have strong political disagreements we treat each other with courtesy and respect.

“I will be meeting with senior party representatives to seek an agreed position that behaviour like that described last night is unacceptable in any circumstances.”

Further calls for PM to step down

09:35 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, has joined Gary Streeter in calling for the Prime Minister to resign.

Former minister calls for PM to resign

09:25 , Bill Mcloughlin

One former minister told the Evening Standard that Liz Truss should resign as Prime Minister for the good of the country after last night’s fracking vote “debacle”.

They said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. The Prime Minister chasing around the Chief Whip. I was just shaking my head in despair. The Government needs a serious and competent person in charge. We don’t have that. There can be no more experiments, no more self-indulgence.”

When asked who should take over from Ms Truss, they said: “Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has difficult task on his hands. I think the public will have confidence in Rishi Sunak’s economic policy.”

Another Tory MP calls for Liz Truss to resign

09:14 , Bill Mcloughlin

Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, has become the latest to call for the Prime Minister to resign.

Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey accused of being at heart of Commons vote chaos

09:04 , Bill Mcloughlin

A senior Labour MP has accused two Government ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey, of “bullying” and “intimidating” Conservative MPs as a vote on fracking in the House of Commons descended into chaos on Wednesday night.

Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that he saw 15-20 Conservative MPs surrounding at least one Tory colleague as they wavered on which way to vote on the issue and amid confusion over whether it was a confidence vote in Liz Truss’s Government.

Mr Bryant, who called for a parliamentary investigation following the angry scenes on Wednesday evening, said Ms Coffey and, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg were at the heart of the mayhem.

Describing the chaos, Mr Bryant said: “Emotion was very high. And at this point when gathering outside that lobby, I must have seen 15 Maybe 20 Tory MPs, including Therese Coffey, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Jacob Rees-Mogg…and various others all surrounding a couple of Conservative MPs who were wavering as to how they should vote.

“It was very aggressive, very angry, there was a lot of shouting and there was a lot of pointing, gesticulating..there was at least one hand on another MP and to me that was clear bullying and intimidation.

“One of the things that we have in our behaviour code in Parliament is that we simply will not countenance bullying, or any intimidation anywhere in the parliamentary estate and it was happening in the division lobbies last night.”

Read our story here.

More confusion over fracking vote

08:46 , Bill Mcloughlin

On Wednesday afternoon, MPs were told that the vote on fracking, was a confidence motion, meaning they would face suspension from the parliamentary party if they rebelled.

However, as MPs went to vote on Wednesday evening, a minister said it was not a confidence motion as it became clear some Tory MPs were not going to back the Government, despite the three-line whip being imposed.

At 1.33am on Thursday, a Conservative source insisted it had been a confidence motion, and the minister had been wrongly informed by an official in No10.

Adding more confusion on Thursday morning, Transport Secretary, Anne Marie-Trevelyan said the vote on fracking was not a confidence motion.

She told told Sky News: “No, yesterday was an opposition day debate and the Labour Party were trying to use a parliamentary tool to try and hijack the order paper. That is never acceptable.

“So what it was, was a very important vote to ensure that the Government did not allow Labour to do that.

“It’s a tactic that has been used in the past, and previous governments have also always made sure that those votes are not won by the Opposition.”

Liz Truss’s position ‘wholly untenable’, says Tory MP

08:35 , Bill Mcloughlin

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt said Liz Truss’s position is “wholly untenable”.

Asked how he would describe her position on Thursday morning, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Wholly untenable. And if she doesn’t understand that then I would be astonished.

“But one of the qualities she has shown is a lack of self-knowledge to this whole process, because it ought to have been clear that she did not have the capacity to lead our party and I don’t think she should have put herself up for the leadership in the first place.

“All of that has now been confirmed. It’s plain what is required. We need to affect a change, frankly, today, in order to stop this shambles and give our country the governance it needs under our constitution.”

He said there is an “obvious” choice for who should be the next prime minister – Jeremy Hunt or Rishi Sunak.

Liz Truss must stand down, says Tory peer

08:31 , Bill Mcloughlin

Conservative peer Lord Ed Vaizey said “the only way out of this mess” is for Liz Truss to stand down and for somebody to be appointed as prime minister by Conservative MPs.

“That is still fraught with problems,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.”

He said it is clear from Suella Braverman’s resignation letter that she regards herself as a credible candidate to be Prime Minister.

“And in terms of kind of shocking self-belief there will be at least five or six people out there who genuinely believe they could be the next prime minister.

“So if the Tory Party cannot have a degree of self-knowledge and realise that the only way forward is to appoint someone they’re pretty much sunk,” he said.

Lord Vaizey said that even if Rishi Sunak was appointed, he thinks there would be elements of the party who would potentially regard him as an “illegitimate” leader.

“So it is a two-stage process, both of which are extremely difficult to affect – appoint a leader and then have that leader lead a loyal parliamentary party that does what it’s asked to do over the next two years and delivers Crispin’s (Blunt) thesis of sound money and stable government,” he said.

Liz Truss has 12 hours to turn to save her premiership

07:47 , Bill Mcloughlin

Liz Truss has 12 hours to save her premiership, a Conservative MP has said.

Speaking to the BBC, Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset said the prime minister faces two crucial days amid a wave of “pessimism” within the party.

He said: “Can the ship be turned around? Yes. But I think there’s about 12 hours to do it.

“I think today and tomorrow are crunch days.”

Anne-Marie Trevelyan backs Liz Truss

07:28 , Sarah Harvey

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News that she “believed” Liz Truss will still be Prime Minister in a fortnight’s time.

MPs may not be suspended, says Anne-Marie Trevelyan

07:25 , Sarah Harvey

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan suggested on Thursday that Tory MPs who failed to back the Government in a “confidence motion” vote on fracking may not be suspended from the parliamentary party if they had “constituency” reasons for their decision.

Tory MPs ‘were told fracking vote was a confidence vote’

06:49 , Sarah Harvey

Former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood tweeted: “Yesterday all Conservative MPs were told the vote on the Labour motion was a Confidence vote. I asked if that meant any MP voting against would lose the whip and was told Yes. I said to be fair all should be told this if planning to vote against and was told they knew.”He also argued: “The PM was wrong to accept the Home Secretary’s resignation. She had the legal expertise and the determination to control our borders to enforce a fair immigration policy.”

Good morning

06:48

Good morning, and welcome to the Standard’s politics live blog for Thursday, October 20. It was a chaotic night in Westminster, here is a quick recap:

Suella Braverman leaves her post as Home Secretary in an acrimonious resignation

Cabinet ministers Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg among a group of senior Tories accused of pressuring colleagues to go into the “no” lobby during fracking vote

Tory MP Sir Charles Walker said what took place was “inexcusable” and “a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party”

Speculation, later denied, that Chief Whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker walked out after a last-minute U-turn on the fracking vote becoming a confidence vote

40 Tory MPs did not vote in the motion