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Liz Truss announces her resignation as prime minister outside No 10 Downing Street. — Liz Truss stands down as UK prime minister – video

From 1h ago

Liz Truss resigns as prime minister

Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister after just 45 days in office.

The announcement, made by Truss outside Downing Street, follows the near-complete evaporation of her political authority which has seen her crash the markets, lose two key ministers and shed the confidence of almost all her own MPs.

Truss will be the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.

2m ago14.46 BST

How will Tories choose next leader? Brady hints at confirmatory ballot

Andrew Sparrow

Good afternoon. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining Léonie Chao-Fong in doing the blog.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announced a few minutes ago that the party wants to have a new leader in place by the end of next week. (See 2.20pm.) But he did not say how this would happen.

In recent weeks there has been an assumption that MPs might bypass the Tory membership, who are meant to get the final say over the leader. But when Brady was asked if members would be included, he said “that is the expectation”. He went on:

The reason I’ve spoken to the pary chairman and discussed the parameters of a process is to look at how we can make the whole thing happen, including the party being consulted, by the end of next week.

What does that mean in practice? Brady did not say, but three options seem likely.

1) MPs choosing a leader, and members being given the chance to approve them in a snap ballot. Brady may have been hinting at this when he talked about the party “being consulted”. This could be done quickly. Or, at least, the MPs could choose a new leader, and that new leader could start forming a cabinet while waiting to be confirmed in post by a members’ ballot. A confirmatory ballot of this kind might seem pointless, but Charles Moore, the former Telegraph editor and an influential figure in Tory politics, argued in a column this week that it would be worthwhile. He said in a column:

If [MPs choose the leader] do this, they should probably do something else which sounds pointless, and almost like life in a Communist country, but isn’t. Both in the parliamentary party and the rank-and-file, they should hold a vote for the single, chosen person. Then MPs would have to give their clear personal endorsement.
Some object to this idea, asking, “But what if it turns out that lots of people won’t vote for the chosen X?” I’m afraid the answer is, “Well, if that is so, you know you have a party that cannot be led. In which case, goodbye.”

2) Members choose from a shortlist chosen by MPs, but very quickly. Perhaps this is possible with online voting. But it is still hard to see how this could be done by the end of next week, and MPs do fear this system could throw up another leader who does not command the support of a majority of MPs.

3) MPs just choosing the leader, with members not getting any say at all. Under Tory party rules, members are meant to elect the leader from a shortlist of two. But if MPs could strong-arm all candidates to agree to accept the verdict of MPs, so that the runner-up waives their right to take it to the membership, the members could be excluded. But Brady has indicated the party does not want this. At one point Tories were hoping that a single, “unity” candidate might emerge. But it is already clear this afternoon (see 2.23pm and 2.24pm) that that will not happen.

2m ago14.46 BST

Boris Johnson ‘to stand for leader'

Boris Johnson is expected to stand in the Tory leadership contest, the Times is reporting.

The former prime minister is reportedly taking soundings but is said to believe it is a matter of national interest, Steven Swinford writes.

5m ago14.43 BST

The first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has also called for a general election.

He 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.

7m ago14.41 BST

The Green party has joined calls by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Scottish National party for a general election.

In a statement, the Green party co–leader Carla Denyer said:

The Tory chaos has spiralled beyond any pretence that the country has a viable government.
It is reckless for the Tories to claim that they can replace Liz Truss with any leader capable of commanding authority, nationally or internationally.
The Tories want to impose austerity 2.0 with no electoral mandate. That means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.
The government simply cannot govern - it is unfit for office.
We need a general election now so people can vote for the policies they want to see that will turn this mess around.
The Green party will always stand for a fairer, greener country. We believe the way out of this crisis is to do the opposite of what the government has done – to reduce inequality rather than making it worse, through progressive taxation, including a wealth tax, and windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost of living crisis.
We would use the money to invest in a nationwide insulation programme to make sure people can afford to keep their homes warm, reduce inequality by ensuring that those with the deepest pockets help fund proper public services for all, and fund the beginnings of a just transition to a sustainable economy that protects the people and planet.
It is time for the people to be given their chance to decide on the country’s future.

10m ago14.38 BST

Lisa O'Carroll

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for a quick decision on the new prime minister.

It says Liz Truss’s resignation “means the UK now faces even greater uncertainty, just as it stands on the cusp of a recession”. It said:

The challenges that lay ahead of us are building by the day”, it said with energy prices, inflation and labour shortages impacting businesses up and down the country.
This is unsustainable. Government must work with business to address three main issues, to show it recognises the challenges firms face.

11m ago14.37 BST

Sir Graham Brady was vague about whether one or two candidates would be likely to run for the Conservative Party leadership. He said:

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.

18m ago14.30 BST

Speaking just now, the 1922 Committee chair, Sir Graham Brady, said he expected Tory members to be involved in choosing a new party leader.

Asked if the party faithful would be included in the process, he told reporters:

Well, that is the expectation. So the reason I’ve spoken to the party chairman and I discussed the parameters of a process is to look at how we can make the whole thing happen, including the party being consulted, by Friday next week.

He added:

I think we’re deeply conscious of the imperative in the national interest of resolving this clearly and quickly.

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar asks:

23m ago14.24 BST

Kemi Badenoch expected to run as Conservative party leader

Aubrey Allegretti

Kemi Badenoch is also likely to put herself forward.

An ally said:

It should not be a coronation; the party needs to think about generational change and making sure the next person comes without baggage.

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Marta R. Zabaleta