Next Prime Minister UK LIVE: New PM will need backing of 100 MPs, says 1922 chief Graham Brady
Jimie2022. 10. 21. 04:51
Liz Truss quits LIVE: Boris Johnson faces battle to get backing of 100 MPs to get back in as PM, as leadership contest rules announced - and if two manage that it will go to Tory members
Ms Truss became the shortest serving Prime Minister in history after she lost the confidence of Tory MPs and the public, battled and lost an open revolt from Conservatives demanding her departure, and oversaw economic turbulence.
Now the frazzled Prime Minister is being ripped to shreds on Twitter as social media is flooded with hilarious memes.
Twitter has exploded with memes and jokes mocking ousted Liz Truss as the outgoing Prime Minister quits amid the collapsing scenery of her chaotic Government after just 44 days in power.
Jess Phillips tells QT audience the 'country is on its knees'
Also on Question Time this evening is Labour MP Jess Phillips. She had a scathing question for the Conservative Party as she asked: 'When are you going to govern?'
She added: 'All you have done for a year is to govern for yourselves.'
She echoed Labour calls for a general election.
Rachel Johnson, brother of Boris Johnson, said the country is in 'paralysis', and she believes the country is 'crying out for a say'.
20:18
Conservative 'feels enormous sympathy' for Liz Truss - but backs rival Rishi
Conservative MP Huw Merriman has told his followers tonight that he feels 'enormous sympathy' for Liz Truss: 'I feel enormous sympathy for Liz Truss. I did not put a letter in for a leadership contest and hoped the change in policies would give her time to work this through.
'That did not happen and I send her my thanks and best wishes. I’m sorry we have not done the best for our country.'
Nonetheless he is now backing her former rival, Rishi Sunak.
20:07
Conservative Graham Stewart apologises to the public for instability
Conservative MP Graham Stewart, who was at the forefront of chaos in Westminster last night, has told the BBC's Question Time that he is 'sorry' for the impact the political turmoil has had on ordinary people.
Mr Stewart announced in the House of Commons last night just seconds before voting began in Labour's fracking motion that the vote was not a confidence vote, contradicting previous briefings by government.
20:04
New YouGov poll finds 64 percent of the UK think Truss was a 'terrible PM'
A new poll by YouGov has found that 64 percent of the public believe Liz Truss was a 'terrible' Prime minister.
Meanwhile 18 percent said she was 'poor', seven percent 'average', one percent 'good' and one percent 'great'.
The poll also asked participants whether a new PM should call a general election.
63 percent of the public believe an early general election should be called, while 23 percent believe they shouldn't.
19:55
Mordaunt, Sunak and Johnson remain only candidates with supporters so far
Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson remain the only three MPs who have been publicly backed for a leadership bid by other Conservatives this evening.
It has been reported that others, including Kemi Badenoch who ran in the summer contest, were also considering a run.
But no-one has officially thrown their hat into the ring.
19:44
Watch: UK voters give their view on Liz Truss' resignation
Earlier UK voters were asked for their reactions to the news that Liz Truss had resigned as Prime Minister.
Watch their responses here:
Video: 'It's just a cycle of rubbish': Britons react to ouster of Liz Truss
19:36
Support for Ukraine will continue, says defence minister
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.'
She added: 'Our tumult within the UK is troubling and it is distracting, but I think to put things into context, the problems confronting President Zelensky are of a very different magnitude and none of us should ever forget that, living in a democracy.'
19:25
Maggie Throup and Simon Hoare back Rishi Sunak
Maggie Throup and Simon Hoare have become the latest MPs to publicly declare support for any candidate. They are both backing Rishi Sunak to become leader.
19:18
The fight for No10 is well underway... but no candidate has officially declared
It's worth stressing that although candidates to become the next PM are making themselves known via their supporters and 'close sources', it's extremely difficult to tell what measure of support they actually have.
No candidate has officially confirmed their candidacy yet, meaning the battle for No10 has not technically started.
But the fight is truly underway in the shadows.
The closed front door to 10 Downing Street is pictured in central London, on October 20, 2022
19:11
Irish Foreign Minister criticises UK 'instability' amid complex issues after Brexit
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.
He said the mood music had improved recently, adding he had met Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris on multiple occasions in recent weeks.
'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.
'Unfortunately part of the consequence of what has happened today is of course more uncertainty for Northern Ireland because not only will we have a new British prime minister next Friday, but of course if there isn't an Assembly up and running in Northern Ireland by next Friday, by law, whoever is secretary of state at that time is required to set a date for a new election.'
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney
19:01
Mordaunt positions herself to run as a possible 'unity candidate'
Penny Mordaunt has been touted as a possible successor to Liz Truss for days now, and even took an urgent question for her from Labour earlier this week.
Many in the party believe she could be a 'moderate' candidate who has the best chance of uniting the divided factions.
Craig Tracey has just confirmed he would support her in a bid for leader.
18:58
Mark Drakeford demands general election as he warns Boris is not the answer
Mark Drakeford has given his damning verdict on the Conservative Party following the resignation of Liz Truss earlier today.
He has taken to social media to demand a general election, saying: 'This has been a complete and utter failure of government with everyone in this country now having to pay the price.'
Watch his comments in full here:
Video: Wanting Boris back is not a 'get out jail free card' says Drakeford
Liz Truss has only been out of office for a matter of hours but is already coming under pressure to relinquish her almost-£20,000 payout which she became eligible for when resigning as PM.
She is also entitled to a £115,000 annual allowance - but after becoming the PM to spend the shortest time in office by some 60 days, having served for just 44, she is coming under pressure to decline the cash rewards.
Sunak supporters told to vocalise support by tomorrow
It's being reported that Rishi Sunak backers have been asked to share their support on social media either tonight or tomorrow.
The latest to do so are Bim Afolami and Nick Gibb.
Mr Gibb said: 'Rishi’s charisma and wider appeal in the country means he is best placed to rebuild support for our Party.'
18:26
Levelling up minister says Conservatives 'need to move on'
Reacting to Liz Truss announcing she will resign as Prime Minister, levelling up minister Paul Scully said: '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.'
On reports former prime minister Boris Johnson could run, he said: 'I suspect what will happen is we'll look afresh, there is a lot of talent looking to stand, let's see what happens over the next few days.'
8 June 2022.Politicians and senior public officials seen out and about in Westminster, London, UK on 8th June 2022. Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a vote of confidence by Conservative MPs on Monday though faces potential long term difficulties, leaving his future in doubt.Pictured: Paul ScullyCredit: TS/GoffPhotos.com Ref: KGC-254
18:20
Tory MP blasts Conservative Post for 'pure fiction' after it says he backs Johnson
Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex Bernard Jenkin has publicly declared he has made no comment on who he supporting in the leadership election after a Twitter account belonging to the Conservative Post, which has more than 8,000 followers, claimed he was backing Boris Johnson.
He said: 'I have not made any comment about who I will support in the leadership election, and this Conservative Post report is pure fiction. I request Conservative Post take down this erroneous report.'
18:11
South Suffolk MP becomes latest to back Sunak as Johnson takes an early lead
MP for South Suffolk James Cartlidge has become the latest to back Rishi Sunak for leader.
It comes as Boris Johnson takes an early lead in those who have declared - but as with any candidate at this stage, it does not mean this equates to the actual number of supporters he ends up with.
There were 55 days between the start of this summer's Conservative Party leadership contest and Liz Truss being named the victor.
She lasted 44 days before announcing her resignation as Prime Minister.
It means she is now set to hold the unenviable record as Britain's shortest-serving premier ever.
Her premiership has blown up quicker than anyone - perhaps including former No10 aide Dominic Cummings, who branded her the 'human hand grenade' - might have predicted.
For more on how Liz Truss went into freefall, read on here:
Boris Johnson will struggle to make 100 MP threshold, commentators say
The announcement that the next Prime Minister will need 100 nominations from fellow Conservative MPs is a serious challenge to the former PM, experts are arguing.
Multiple political reporters are warning that he is unlikely to reach the threshold after previously being forced out of office by his own party.
Problems with a Johnson candidacy include his popularity with the public crashing - even if he still rides high with the Tory membership.
Polling for the Conservatives was already dropping during Mr Johnson's premiership and he faces an investigation by the Commons Privileges Committee into whether he lied to MPs.
If found guilty, he could face recall proceedings that would leave him battling for his seat in the Commons if he receives a suspension of 10 days or more.
Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said: 'Until that investigation is complete and he is found guilty or cleared, there should be no possibility of him returning to Government.'
Mr Johnson was forced to announce his resignation as Tory leader and, ultimately, PM on July 7 after Cabinet allies turned on him with a series of resignations.
The final straw was questions about his judgment over the Chris Pincher affair, after the then-Tory whip was the centre of drunken groping allegations.
That came on top of Mr Johnson's attempts to change the rules to prevent the suspension of then-Conservative MP Owen Paterson after he broke lobbying rules.
Plenty of Tories were also angered by the high-tax, high-spending Government he initiated in response to the coronavirus.
But his handling of the pandemic response is also under question, with Lobby Akinnola, a spokesman for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign, issuing a warning. 'It's devastating for bereaved families to think that anyone in the Conservative party is considering bringing Boris Johnson back as PM,' he said.
'The idea that the prime minister who proved himself utterly incompetent during the pandemic should be the one to lead us into the next crisis is utterly terrifying.'
Liz Truss resignation: Who might replace the embattled Tory leader?
17:50
Slow trickle of MPs asking Boris Johnson to return
The slow trickle of Conservative MPs suggesting they would support Boris Johnson in the upcoming leadership election is growing, with James Duddridge and David Morris becoming the latest.
Mr Johnson is currently on holiday in the Caribbean, and has not confirmed whether he plans to run - although sources say he is heading back to the UK to do so.
17:41
Further MPs declare their allegiences
More MPs have began announcing who they will be supporting to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
The majority of early backers are for Rishi Sunak, but Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson are also expected to have many supporters.
But the 100 MP threshold means it is unlikely more than two candidates will end up in Monday's hustings.
17:37
Leadership candidates will have to secure 100 MPs by MONDAY
Sir Graham Brady is setting out the rules for the next Tory leadership contest.
He told reporters that candidates will be expected to have secured 100 Conservative MPs' nominations by 2pm on Monday.
A hustings will then take place between candidates for MPs.
He added: 'We will then go on to conduct whatever ballots are necessary in the course of Monday.'
If two candidates remain at the end of Monday's hustings, then the Conservative membership will vote to elect their next leader. This will be proceeded by an online hustings.
Sir Graham Brady seemed to suggest that the UK could have a new PM by Monday if only one candidate is left standing after MPs have had their say.
17:30
Leadership candidates' first public backers come forward
The first MPs who are supporting Rishi Sunak in the leadership contest have began publicly confirming this on social media.
First was Simon Hart, MP for Carmathen West and South Pembrokeshire, who said it is 'no time for experiments'.
Meanwhile Shaun Bailey, MP for Wednesbury, Oldbury & Tipton, is backing Boris Johnson, posting a picture of the pair of them on Twitter.
17:26
Rules for leadership contest set to be announced
The rules for the Conservative Leadership contest are expected to be announced at around 5.30pm this evening.
Sir Graham Brady spoke shortly after Liz Truss' resignation earlier this afternoon and said the whole contest would be completed within a week.
This would likely mean that the party membership do not get a vote in proceedings - but this is yet to be confirmed.
Video: Sir Graham Brady says he will meet with officers of '22 today
17:22
Odds on Johnson making comeback are slashed
The odds on Johnson returning as Liz Truss' replacement to be Prime Minister have been slashed from 20/1 to 3/1 at Ladbrokes this afternoon.
Although a lot of MPs are making plenty of noise about a return to office, his credibility was severely damaged after Partygate and the drawn-out process which saw him finally resign in July, just three months ago.
Other contenders are thought to be Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and possibly Kemi Badenoch.
17:15
Conservatives face 'extinction' with messy leadership election, minister warns
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.'
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'.
Robert Jenrick, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, speaks at a Policy Exchange event on the second day of the Conservative Party conference
17:04
Sir Roger Gale: 'We need to remember that Mr Johnson is still under investigation'
The 160,000-plus Tory party members have been promised a vote to pick the next Prime Minister by next Friday - but there are fears amongst the grassroots that MPs may 'stitch up' the process to cement a 'coronation' of their favoured candidate.
1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady has said that the Conservative faithful should be involved in choosing a new party leader, however, he was vague about the process after MPs vote first in the coming days.
If there is only one candidate left, as some Tory MPs have demanded, there would be no need for a members' vote, likely to be online.
The party is keen to avoid a re-run of the summer's bitter and protracted 55-day race in which she beat Rishi Sunak amid bitter blue-on-blue infighting that did not help the party in the polls.
Keir Starmer: Return of Boris Johnson would 'add insult to injury'
The return of Boris Johnson would "add insult to injury for the public", Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Asked whether he would not mind facing Mr Johnson again, amid speculation of a comeback after Liz Truss's resignation, the Labour leader told the BBC's Newscast podcast: 'No. I share the view that (he) was unfit for office.'
Sir Keir added: 'Let's remember that it was three months ago pretty much that he resigned in disgrace. He resigned because dozens of his frontbench (colleagues) were resigning themselves, saying he was unfit for office...
'So if they're going to go from this experiment, this chaos, this economic damage, (and) wind back three months to a man who was deemed to be unfit for office, I think that only adds insult to injury for the public (who will be) knocking on the door saying, "Hang on, why can't we have a say on this?"'
PABestLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer addresses delegates at the annual TUC congress in Brighton. Picture date: Thursday October 20, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story INDUSTRY TUC. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
16:11
'Wishful thinking' to imagine that Boris Johnson will return, Tory MP says
Justin Tomlinson has said it is '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.'
16:00
Theresa May says MPs 'must now be prepared to compromise'
15:58
Keir Starmer demands an end to 'revolving door of chaos'
Sir Keir Starmer today stepped up his demand for a general election in the wake of Liz Truss's resignation as the Labour leader called for an end to the Tory 'soap opera'.
Soon after Ms Truss announced she was ending her historically short spell as Prime Minister, Sir Keir insisted that voters must have 'their say' at the ballot box.
The departing PM intends to hand over to a new Tory leader and PM following a week-long Conservative leadership contest - which will be the second to be held within three months.
Soon after Liz Truss announced she was ending her historically short spell as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer insisted that voters must have 'their say' at the ballot box.
Truss' premiership matches that of Brian Clough at Leeds
Liz Truss's 44-day premiership sees her match Brian Clough's infamous reign at Leeds United, as well as making her the shortest serving prime minister in British history.
Ms Truss fell 74 days short of George Canning's 118 full days as PM - the Tory statesman died in office from ill health in 1827, and had, until Thursday, held the unwanted record.
Ms Truss did however reach the tally held by another well-known leader, drawing level with Clough's equally tumultuous 44 days at Leeds in 1974.
Clough had earned acclaim as manager of Derby County after a playing career cut short by injury - he won promotion to the First Division with the Rams before going on to win the title in 1972.
The outspoken and divisive coach would later cement his legend with Nottingham Forest, winning the European Cup twice with the club along with a number of other trophies.
However, between those hugely successful spells at Derby and Forest, Clough had a 44-day stint as Leeds boss in 1974.
Having arrived at the reigning league champions from Brighton in July to succeed new England manager Don Revie, Clough reportedly promptly told the players to throw their medals in the bin.
He subsequently oversaw six league matches and only one win before being sacked, then making a memorable appearance on the ITV Calendar chat show alongside Revie.
His time at Leeds was later the subject of David Peace's novel The Damned Utd, which was adapted into a film released in 2009.
Ms Truss, who had referenced her upbringing in Leeds during the leadership race had also said "I do want us to channel the spirit of Don Revie" as "we need to win".
She ended up channelling the spirit of Revie's successor with excruciating success.
Leeds United manager Brian Clough (r) stands alongside his players
15:52
UK now has SEVEN living PMs for the first time
The UK will have seven living ex-prime ministers for the first time in modern history when Liz Truss stands down.
She will join Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major in what has become a fast-expanding group of former PMs.
The number of surviving ex-prime ministers has more than doubled in the past 15 years.
When Mr Brown became PM in 2007, only three of his predecessors were still alive: Sir Tony, Sir John and Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
The increase reflects both the rapid turnover of prime ministers in recent years and the age of those who have held the office.
Of the soon-to-be seven living ex-PMs, three are still under 60: Mr Johnson, aged 58; Mr Cameron, 56; and Ms Truss, 47.
Two are still below 70: Sir Tony (69) and Mrs May (66).
Mr Brown is 71 and Sir John is 79.
With the next general election due no later than January 2025, a Conservative defeat at the polls could see this group grow even further, from seven to eight.
15:45
Even Larry the Downing Street cat has had enough...
Larry the cat, yawns as he's photographed in Downing Street
15:44
Deputy Lib Dem leader says Johnson should be BARRED from competing
Deputy Liberal Democrat leader Daisy Cooper said Boris Johnson should be barred from competing in the Tory leadership contest.
"The fact that Conservative MPs are even considering putting Boris Johnson back in Number 10 shows how out of touch they really are," she said.
"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."
15:42
Truss' short speech reflects brevity of her premiership
Liz Truss has given a notably short resignation speech outside No 10, reflecting the record-breaking brevity of her time as Prime Minister.
After only 44 days in office, the outgoing leader spent one minute and 30 seconds speaking at Downing Street under cloudy skies on Thursday afternoon - a considerably shorter time than her predecessors.
It was four times shorter than the penultimate prime minister Boris Johnson's outgoing address on September 6, when he spent six minutes and nine seconds speaking at the same lectern.
The last female Prime Minister before Ms Truss, Theresa May, spoke for six minutes and 25 seconds as she left office in July 2019, while David Cameron spent seven minutes at the podium when he stood down in July 2016.
It also follows an alarmingly short press conference given by Ms Truss on October 14 amid the plummeting of the pound and the sacking of her first Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng.
This conference comprised Ms Truss spending just eight minutes outlining the reasons for his dismissal, and taking only four questions from a room bustling with national news reporters.
On Thursday, reporters jostled for position beneath central London skies as unsettled as Ms Truss' government has been over the past six weeks of economic turmoil and the loss of two Cabinet ministers.
Her own departure came rapidly after a last-minute meeting inside No 10 Downing Street with chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
Whitehall journalists had scrambled to access the street in time for Ms Truss's final speech, with several being locked out by security moments before she approached the podium.
Ms Truss wore the same knee-length navy dress and silver necklace she donned on the day she became Prime Minister, and just as with her opening speech, her husband, Hugh O'Leary, stood behind her.
While Ms Truss' supporters had flanked either side of the door to Number 10 as she took the keys on September 6, this time her beleaguered political allies remained behind closed doors.
Rain drizzled over Downing Street moments after Ms Truss finished her speech and retreated inside No 10.
15:41
MP plays down Boris Johnson's return as 'wishful thinking'
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."
15:39
Who takes over now? Tory party squabbles over who can be the 'unity candidate'
Liz Truss's bombshell resignation today sets up a lighting fast election for a new Tory leader with no obvious unity candidate to take over.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are both considering a new run at power in the contest that Tories hope will select a new leader by Friday October 28.
The party is keen to avoid a re-run of the summer's bitter and protracted 55-day race in which Ms Truss beat Mr Sunak.
The party is keen to avoid a re-run of the summer's bitter and protracted 55-day race in which she beat Rishi Sunak amid bitter blue-on-blue infighting that did not help the party in the polls.
Michael Fabricant throws his weight behind Boris Johnson
15:33
Mark Logan confirms he's standing... after hospital treatment
15:31
President Biden thanks Truss for her help in supporting Ukraine
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."
15:30
Nicola Sturgeon sticks the boot in
Nicola Sturgeon has stuck the boot into Liz Truss after she announced her resignation this afternoon, making her the shortest serving Prime Minister in history.
The First Minister of Scotland has now said that a General Election is a 'democratic imperative', as well as taking aim at the turnover of PM's during her time in office.
Responding to a tweet questioning whether Sturgeon had even had a formal meeting with the short-lived PM, she replied: 'If she doesn't mind, I'll now just wait for whoever will become the 5th PM (so far) during my time as FM'.
The First Minister of Scotland has now said that a General Election is a 'democratic imperative', as well as taking aim at the turnover of PM's during her time in office.
MP Bob Seely, who backed Penny Mordaunt in the summer's Conservative Party leadership contest, said he hoped she would run for leader.
Mr Seely also said he predicted "quite a high threshold" for MPs to stand for leader, while also indicating that he did not want to "go back" to the time when Boris Johnson was leader.
"Good luck to Boris. I don't want to go back to a few months ago where we were so whoever is going to get through I think there's going to be quite a high threshold," he told Sky News.
"And I will see personally who those candidates are when they get the numbers."
Backing Ms Mordaunt, Mr Seely said: "I think she has a great set of qualities. She has lots of ministerial experience. I think she comes across very well. And I think she resonates with people.
"Right now when we are facing a couple of international crises, both in energy, but also in the Ukraine war, having somebody with stature, with government experience, who can resonate with people, I think is really important."
15:26
Drained' Tory leader delivered resignation speech with 'bizarre bravado'
Liz Truss today delivered one of the most 'bizarre' resignation speeches in British political history as the 'drained' and 'pallid' Prime Minister feigned a 'sickly smile' to 'mask' her true emotions after weeks of public fury, a body language expert has told MailOnline.
Miss Truss is set to become the shortest serving Prime Minister in history after a chaotic 44 days in office during which she lost the confidence of Tory MPs and the public, battled and lost an open revolt from Conservatives demanding her departure and oversaw economic turbulence.
Speaking from a lectern in Downing Street, she said she had told the King she was resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party as she recognised she 'cannot deliver the mandate' which Tory members gave her little over six weeks ago.
Judi James told MailOnline that she believed the Prime Minister looked 'drained, pallid, probably as though she hadn't slept last night' - while her husband looked 'primed to catch her if she collapsed'.
European leaders don't appear too cut up by Truss' departure
French President Emmanuel MacronEuropean Council President Charles MichelGerman Chancellor Olaf ScholzPrime Minister of the Netherlands Mark RutteGermany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi
15:21
Ireland's premier demands 'urgent' end to Protocol dispute
Ireland's premier has issued his best wishes to Liz Truss upon her resignation and said that a resolution to the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute was now "ever more urgent".
"I had a number of opportunities to engage with Prime Minister Liz Truss during her brief period as Prime Minister and I convey my best wishes to her and her family, following today's announcement of her resignation," Taoiseach Micheal Martin said in a statement.
"Working together to protect the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and to support peace and stability in Northern Ireland continue to be vital responsibilities for the British and Irish Governments, particularly now in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.
"Substantive EU-UK engagement to reach agreement on outstanding issues around implementation of the Protocol is ever more urgent.
"Britain is Ireland's closest neighbour and a relationship of partnership between the British and Irish Governments is vital for peace and prosperity on these islands. I remain committed to working with the British Government in this spirit."
15:19
Twitter explodes with mocking memes and jokes
Twitter has exploded with memes and jokes mocking ousted Liz Truss as the Prime Minister quits amid the collapsing scenery of her chaotic Government after just 44 days in power.
Miss Truss is set to become the shortest serving Prime Minister in history after she lost the confidence of Tory MPs and the public, battled and lost an open revolt from Conservatives demanding her departure, and oversaw economic turbulence.
Now the frazzled Prime Minister is being ripped to shreds on Twitter as social media is flooded with hilarious memes.
Twitter has exploded with memes and jokes mocking ousted Liz Truss as the outgoing Prime Minister quits amid the collapsing scenery of her chaotic Government after just 44 days in power.
Sinn Fein calls on parties to 'stand up to the Tories'
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill called on political parties in Northern Ireland to unite to "stand up to the Tories", following the resignation of Liz Truss.
She tweeted: "The chaos & disastrous policies of the Tories has heaped misery onto workers & families.
"Liz Truss joins the long line of British Prime Ministers who have failed people
"We need all parties in the North to work together, stand up to the Tories & support people in a new Executive."
15:15
Inside the departing Tory leader's ill-fated 44 days at No 10
Truss' premiership didn't even last as long as the leadership contest
15:11
Lib Dems also call for general election
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "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."
15:09
Global media laugh at the UK and slam Tories doomed 'by their own idiocy'
Britain has become the laughing stock of the world's media as Liz Truss resigned today after her leadership went 'from absurd to ridiculous' amid daily scenes of 'abject chaos' in parliament.
Column inches from Australia to America, Ireland to India, and across mainland Europe have been filled with mockery for both 'hopeless and hapless' Truss and a Tory party they said has been doomed 'by its own idiocy'.
But the tone was far from cheerful. Many seemed deeply shocked that the British parliament, a 'temple of democracy and the oldest traditions', has been reduced to a 'circus' that one said risked turning the venerable UK into a 'Banana Republic'.
Column inches from Australia to America, Ireland to India, and across mainland Europe have been filled with mockery for 'hopeless and hapless' Liz Truss.
Plaid Cymru bemoans 'chaotic circus' of Westminster
Leaders of Wales's nationalist party Plaid Cymru have described events at Westminster as a "chaotic circus", claiming it is "proof once and for all that Westminster will never work for Wales".
Adam Price MS and Liz Saville Roberts MP said: "This chaotic circus is proof once and for all that Westminster will never work for Wales. Only Plaid Cymru can offer the communities of Wales a better future.
"Another prime minister gone, but there is still no recognition that it's not the individuals in Downing Street that's the problem, but the fundamental contradictions within the Tory party as a whole.
"Brexit lies created a vacuum of accountability in Westminster - and allowed talentless zealots to seize the reins of power without an inkling how to use them.
"People in Wales are looking aghast at the chaos after being lectured for years that we need Westminster to survive.
"We urgently need a general election so that the people of Wales can reject this Westminster chaos at the ballot box.
"There is a duty now on Welsh Conservative MPs to recognise that their government's time is up. Unless they do so, this disgraceful chaos will drag on indefinitely."
15:05
Truss still has to meet the King in person to formally resign
Liz Truss will still have to meet the King in person to formally tender her resignation, as is tradition.
This will take place immediately before the monarch asks her successor, also in person, to form a government.
Charles as sovereign plays an important constitutional role in the appointment of a new prime minister.
The Royal Encyclopedia states that the appointment of a prime minister is "one of the few remaining personal prerogatives of the sovereign".
It says that, in the normal course of events, the monarch does not act on advice nor need to consult anyone before calling upon the leader with an overall majority of seats in the House of Commons to form a government.
But the monarch is guided by constitutional conventions and can seek advice from the outgoing prime minister, any other political leader, senior privy counsellors, or whomever they please within the limits of prudence and caution.
The King spoke to Liz Truss on the phone, when she informed him she was resigning, the same day as holding the first credentials presentations of his reign at Buckingham Palace.
Credentials presentations are audiences with newly appointed ambassadors or high commissioners who hand over their letters of credence or commission to the monarch.
15:03
Boris Johnson 'plans to run to become prime minister AGAIN'
Boris Johnson is said to be considering a new run at power after Liz Truss's bombshell resignation today sets up a lighting fast election for a new Tory leader.
The former prime minister, who was forced out of Downing Street in the summer after a scandal-plagued three years in charge, is believed to be sounding out advice on mounting a comeback.
He is the most popular choice with party members but may struggle to win over enough MPs after ministers collapsed his government to force him from power in the summer.
The former prime minister, who was forced out of Downing Street in the summer after a scandal-plagued three years in charge, is believed to be sounding out advice on mounting a comeback.
Truss resignation spells 'uncertainty' for Northern Ireland, claims shadow secretary
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said the Prime Minister's resignation spells more "uncertainty" for Northern Ireland.
The Government has been insisting that another Assembly election will be called in a matter of days, if powersharing is not restored.
Mr Kyle tweeted: "Northern Ireland has suffered enough from Tory neglect.
"At this critical time, with assembly elections looming and crucial negotiations ongoing, the Tories plunge Northern Ireland into yet more uncertainty."
He said his party "stands ready to be the honest broker Northern Ireland needs".
14:59
Welsh First Minister slams 'complete and utter failure'
Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, said: "This has been a complete and utter failure of government, with everyone in this country now having to pay the price.
"The complete lack of leadership is preventing decisions and actions from being taken to deal with the many challenges we are facing and help people over what is going to be a very difficult winter.
"Unfortunately, the deep and intractable divisions within the Government means that any successor put forward will face the same set of challenges.
"A general election is now the only way to end this paralysis."
14:43
Rishi Sunak favourite to become the next Prime Minister
Liz Truss has announced her resignation after a chaotic 44 days in office during which she lost the confidence of Tory MPs and the public and oversaw economic turbulence.
Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt 'will not stand to become new Prime Minister'
Former Cabinet minister Michael Gove will not stand for the Tory leadership,, allies have said.
Jeremy Hunt is also understood not to be putting himself forward, with it likely that he will remain Chancellor instead.
14:30
Sir Graham Brady expects new leader to be in place by Friday
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory 1922 Committee, said he expected the new leader to be in place by Friday, October 28.
He told reporters: 'I have spoken to the party chairman Jake Berry and he has confirmed that it will be possible to conduct a ballot and conclude a leadership election by Friday, October 28.
'So we should have a new leader in place before the fiscal statement which will take place on the 31st.'
He was also vague about whether one or two candidates would be likely to run.
He added: 'The party rules say there will be two candidates unless there is only one candidate.'
Asked what happens if one candidate drops out, Sir Graham said: 'If there is only one candidate, there is only one candidate.'
And pressed on whose idea it was to truncate the process into one week, he said: 'I think it's a matter on which there is a pretty broad consensus.'
Sir Graham also said: 'It certainly is not the circumstances I would wish to see.'
Chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives Sir Graham Brady makes a statement outside the Houses of Parliament
14:22
Penny Mordaunt: 'I am going to keep calm and carry on'
Penny Mordaunt has insisted she will 'keep calm and carry on' as she was teased about her leadership ambitions following Liz Truss's resignation.
The Conservative minister was in the Commons when Ms Truss appeared in Downing Street to announce her resignation as Conservative Party leader.
Ms Mordaunt came third in the leadership contest over the summer and narrowly missed out on a place in the head-to-head phase between Ms Truss and Rishi Sunak.
She later backed Ms Truss over the former chancellor Mr Sunak.
Asked in the chamber about Ms Truss's resignation and the state of the Government,
Commons Leader Ms Mordaunt said: 'I am going to keep calm and carry on - and I would suggest everyone else do the same.'
Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) joked that she wanted to ask Ms Mordaunt if she 'wants to make any statement of intent in relation to her future candidacy for leader of her party', before focusing her question on international aid.
Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans later said it had been 'another momentous day in British politics' as the Commons pressed on with its scheduled business despite the drama outside.
14:15
Andrew Bridgen: Liz Truss did 'the honourable thing'
Andrew Bridgen, who handed in a letter of no confidence in Liz Truss, believes a general election is now likely.
He told Sky News: 'When you get to -70 on personal approvals, you're basically giving Vladimir Putin a run for his money.
'There's no way back so she's done the honourable thing.'
He added: 'I think the state of politics we're in today, if the party can't do that, can't coalesce around a new PM and the leadership team, we're heading for a general election.'
Andrew Bridgen (right) pictured leaving the Carlton Club in London last night
14:08
Liz Truss' resignation comes a day after vow that she is 'not a quitter'
Ms Truss's resignation came just a little over 24 hours after she told MPs she was 'a fighter, not a quitter'.
WEDNESDAY: Liz Truss declares 'I'm a fighter, not a quitter'
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13:56
Liz Truss is the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history
Liz Truss will be the shortest serving prime minister in British history.
She has currently clocked up 44 full days in the role - a long way behind the next shortest premiership, that of Tory statesman George Canning, who spent 118 full days as PM in 1827 before dying in office from ill health.
Ms Truss was to have overtaken this number of days on January 3 2023.
But instead she will fall short by more than two months, with the next prime minister due to be elected within the next week.
13:52
Liz Truss' resignation statement in full
Here is Liz Truss's resignation statement as delivered in Downing Street:
'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 has 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 chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady. We have agreed that 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.'
13:49
Watch Liz Truss' resignation speech - as she steps down after just 44 days
Video: Liz Truss resigns after 44 days: PM admits she cannot carry on
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13:45
Keir Starmer calls for immediate general election
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.'
13:43
Liz Truss: 'I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected'
Speaking outside No10, Liz Truss said: 'I recognise... given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.'
She adds: 'This morning I met the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
'We've agreed that 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 plan and maintain our country's economic stability and national security.
I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen.
Liz Truss dramatically quit today, admitting defeat after crisis talks in Downing Street with Tory chiefs.
After just 44 days in No10, the PM took to a lectern outside the famous black door to confirm her departure.
Saying she had informed the King of her decision, she said: 'I cannot deliver on the mandate.... I will remain as PM until a successor has been chosen.'
Speaking outside Number 10, Liz Truss has announced she is stepping down as Prime Minister after just six weeks.
A leadership election will be 'completed in the next week', she adds.
13:27
Paul Holmes becomes 17th Tory MP to call for PM's resignation
The Tory MP for Eastleigh just tweeted: 'I joined the Conservative Party to deliver for the great people of this country.
'The Prime Minister cannot do that. The last few days have left me in despair.
'I believe the Prime Minister should resign and have written my letter to Sir Graham Brady.'
13:20
Prime Minister to give a statement at 1.30pm
The Prime Minister will give a statement at 1.30pm, Sky News reports.
A lectern has now been placed in front of the entrance to No10.
13:19
Ruth Edwards become latest MP to tell PM she needs to 'step aside'
Conservative Ruth Edwards has told Liz Truss to "step aside, go, and let someone who is up to the task" become Prime Minister.
The Rushcliffe MP wrote on the ConservativeHome website: "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.
'So I add my small voice to the groundswell of others. Step aside, go, and let someone who is up to the task take on the great privilege and responsibility of leading our great country and party.'
She also says Chief Whip Wendy Morton did in fact resign during Wednesday's chaos in the Commons.
'I walked up to the Chief Whip to try and clarify what was going on. She cut me off mid-sentence "I don't have to talk to you, I've resigned", Ms Edwards wrote.
The chaos surrounding Liz Truss today has at its heart one seemingly straightforward question: what does the Conservative Party do with her?
The Tories have two equally basic answers to that question: they either find a way to get rid or her or step back and keep her in power, however unpalatable that seems.
But it is there than any sort of simplicity disappears. Ms Truss yesterday vowed that she is a 'fighter, not a quitter' and suggested she wants to fight on to the next election.
Tory MPs savage Liz Truss and call for her to go TODAY
Tory MPs Crispin Blunt and Simon Hoare today savaged Ms Truss on BBC RADI 4 today.
Mr Blunt, a former minister, said: 'It is holy untenable. 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 through this whole process.
'It ought to have been clear that she did not have the capacity to lead her party and I don't think that she should have put herself up for the leadership in the first place.'
Video: 'Stop this shambles': Tory MPs savage PM and call for her to go TODAY
12:52
The Tory MPs publicly calling for Truss to go
Here are the Tories openly calling for the PM to quit - although many more have made their views clear privately.
1) Crispin Blunt
2) Andrew Bridgen
3) Jamie Wallis
4) Angela Richardson
5) Charles Walker
6) Will Wragg
7) Gary Streeter
8) Steve Double
9) Sheryll Murray
10) Henry Smith
11) Miriam Cates
12) Matthew Offord
13) Steve Double
14) Henry Smith
15) Jill Mortimer
16) Ruth Edwards
17) Paul Holmes
12:49
Sir Graham Brady and Therese Coffey are seen entering No10
Liz Truss is engaged in an increasingly desperate struggle for survival today as the 1922 committee chief headed into Downing Street for talks.
Sir Graham Brady is in No10 meeting the PM after 24 hours of carnage that saw the Home Secretary quit, confusion over whether the Chief Whip had followed her out of the door, and MPs wrestling in Commons voting lobbies.
No10 sources said the premier invited the party shop steward in for a discussion following a 'difficult day' - but denied that she has any intention of resigning.
