UK Prime Minister Quits After 44 Days In Office
The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Truss has resigned after just 44 days in office.
She made the announcement outside Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.
The previous record was set at 119 days by George Canning who died in office in 1827.
Truss’ resignation follows her near-complete loss of political authority which has seen her lose two key ministers and the loss of confidence of almost all her own MPs.
Truss said she has spoken with the King to notify him that she is resigning as the leader of the Conservative party., reported The Guardian.
She said she would remain as prime minister until a successor is chosen.
Earlier Truss met with the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, where they “agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week”. She said:
I recognise though given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative party.
Truss’ finance minster Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled £45bn of tax cuts in her third week, in what they called a “mini-budget”.
However, the measures were widely blamed for causing huge economic problems and this resulted in Kwarteng’s sacking as chancellor.
Dozens of Tories (Conservatives) called on Truss to step down and her Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned.
She had to hire former rivals Grant Shapps and Jeremy Hunt to plug the gaps in her top team. Shapps replaced Braverman while Hunt took over as Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) from Kwarteng.
Liz Truss’s resignation speech in full
I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability.
Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.
Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent.
And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth.
I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this.
We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.
And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.
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 Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady.
We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week.
This will ensure 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.
