LIVE Updates: Rishi Sunak crosses minimum nomination threshold to contest in PM race

UK's Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock has offered support to Rishi Sunak in the Prime Ministerial race. In a tweet, Hancock said that he has worked closely with Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. However, he added that Rishi Sunak "ticks all boxes." 

Conservative British politician of Indian origin Rishi Sunak is quick off the mark to bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party and the British Prime Ministership having secured more than a hundred nominations - which is the minimum requirement to contest for the post. Sunak, late Friday became the first Tory leadership contender to reach the 100-nomination threshold to run for party leader following the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss, reported Independent citing campaign sources.

The top UK Prime Minister contender Rishi Sunak has received the public backing of 100 MPs in the contest to become Conservative leader, according to the sources of BBC. The former chancellor has not yet formally declared his candidacy in the contest.

 Britain’s governing Conservative Party is electing a new leader for the second time this year. The winner will replace Liz Truss, who stepped down Thursday after 45 days in office, as party leader and will automatically become prime minister. Unlike the two-month contest held over the summer to replace Boris Johnson, party officials have designed a condensed election process that aims to have a new prime minister in place within a week.

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A clear frontrunner to take over from Liz Truss as Conservative Party leader and British Prime Minister remains uncertain on Friday due to deep divisions among the Tories, but the bookies' odds have rocketed in favour of British Indian former chancellor Rishi Sunak. As the runner-up of the leadership election which concluded last month, the former finance minister who had forecast much of the economic crisis unleashed by Truss' mini-budget is seen as a safe pair of hands to take charge at 10 Downing Street.

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The UK transport secretary has come in support of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and asserted he has already a clear mandate from the public. With this, she became the fifth minister who came in support of Johson.
 

Rebecca Pow, who served as a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Boris Johnson government, has now backed the top PM contender Rishi Sunak. Pow, who resigned from Johnson's government, said, “it’s time for sense”.

British government debt rose to the highest level in almost 60 years last month and retail sales slumped, underscoring the scale of the economic challenges facing whoever replaces Prime Minister Liz Truss after her administration imploded under the weight of its failed financial plan.

Public borrowing rose to 98% of economic output in September as rampant inflation increased interest payments on what the government owed, the Office for National Statistics said Friday. That’s higher than at any point since 1963, when Britain was still paying off debts accumulated during World War II.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- ousted by ethics scandals just three months ago -- jockeyed to make a comeback Friday as one of several contenders seeking to replace Liz Truss, whose rapid downfall threw the country’s leadership into disarray at a time of severe economic challenges.

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Former UK PM Boris Johnson claimed to the party that he has the support of at least 140 MPs. Some UK-based media reported that Johnson, who was enjoying a holiday trip in the Caribbean, has already boarded a flight to start the leadership campaign.
The Telegraph reports also claimed Johnson of suggesting the top contender work collectively, if elected as the next leader. It means Johnson wants Sunak to join his cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Amid the tumultuous exit of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss on October 20, her predecessor Boris Johson, who was unceremoniously 'ousted' as PM, now seeking a comeback and lead the country at a time when it has been facing the worst-ever economic crisis. According to a report by The Telegraph, London, Johnson is "desperate" to come back and has reportedly suggested the top contender and his former colleague Rishi Sunak opt out of the race. The former PM "is making a larger point to Conservative MPs — that only he can save the party from facing defeat in the elections due in December 2024," as per the media report.

Former cabinet minister David Gauke urged the opposition to force the general elections if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister again. "If Boris Johnson became PM again, given the views of many Tory MPs, this is what I'd be tempted to say if I was Keir Starmer or Ed Davey: "The PM is not fit for office. Nor is the Tory Party. We know that many honourable Tory MPs feel the same way," he said.

Former UK PM Boris Johnson has now got the backing of at least four ministers as COP26 president Alok Sharma has come out in support of the minister. Earlier, Ben Wallace, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Simon Clarke signalled their support. 

Boris Johnson’s former chancellor and health secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced his support for Rishi Sunak for UK's leadership race. While Sunak has not officially announced he would be running in the race, Javid released a statement mentioning that the UK needs economic stability and strong leadership. He mentioned he believes Sunak would be the right choice to become the PM and wrote, "It is abundantly clear that Rishi Sunak has what it takes to match the challenges we face – he is the right person to lead our party and take the country forward."

"I also believe it is in the national interest to have a strong Conservative party. The only way for our party to reclaim our values and recover our reputation for stewardship is to move on from mistakes of the past and come together to focus on the future," he added.

According to a report by PA, Penny Mordaunt held a meeting with the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, sometime before she announced she was running for the leadership. During the meeting, Mordaunt allegedly assured Hunt he could stay in No 11 if she won. Sources close to Mordaunt also revealed she would proceed with Hunt's budget plan due to be announced on October 31.

Soon after Penny Mordaunt announced her run for leadership, she received support from her fellow MPs Andrea Leadsom, Harriet Baldwin and John Lamont. Taking to Twitter, Leadsom wrote, "Delighted by this! Penny has the experience, the compassion and the determination to lead our country to a bright future!" Baldwin and Lamont called the announcement "excellent" and "best."

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt recently announced she would be running to become the leader Tory leader and next Prime Minister. In her announcement, Mordaunt wrote, "I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest." "I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister - to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE," she added.

Mordaunt came third in the summer's leadership contest and secured strong support from her fellow MPs. 

Tory MP Nigel Mills recently extended his support to Rishi Sunak to become the next leader. In his Tweet, Mills penned how not backing Sunak during the summer's leadership contest was a "mistake." He added Sunak is "clearly" the Prime Minister the UK needs to "restore stability and tackle the many serious challenges facing the country."

Boris Johnson has received support from the second cabinet minister, the levelling up secretary, Simon Clarke, to return to Downing Street. Earlier, business secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, announced he is backing Johnson with the slogan "Boris or bust." As per the Telegraph, Clarke released a joint statement with Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in his support of Johnson and said, "Boris is the person we need to lead our country and our party." They further reflected Johnson's previous win for the UK's Prime Minister elections and added, "People on Teesside love Boris because he recognised that while talent is evenly distributed across the country, opportunity is not. Boris gave us that opportunity."

Amid the ongoing leadership race, former government minister Greg Clarke recently announced his support for Rishi Sunak. Taking to Twitter, Clarke wrote, "The new PM must lead our nation out of this situation by: continuing @Jeremy_Hunt’s work to restore confidence in our economy; bringing the whole party together in a broad-based government; and respecting & delivering on the democratic mandate of the 2019 manifesto." He added, "I believe that @RishiSunak can do this and I have nominated him."

Conservative MP Tim Loughton was seemingly agitated by his fellow MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's slogan in support of Boris Johnson to become the UK's next PM. Loughton reacted to Rees-Mogg's slogan "Boris or bust" and wrote, "Jacob-how on earth can that slogan be remotely helpful to the Party given the strong possibility that the next PM will not be Boris?" "I would not use the tag line BorisandBust and you really should think this through properly if you have any interest in party unity," he added.

Amid the rumours surrounding Boris Johnson making a bid to return to 10 Downing Street, Labour leader Keir Starmer drew attention to Tory MPs' previous announcement regarding the former. According to BBC, Starmer said the Conservative Party's "revolving door of chaos" must end and added that Johnson was declared unfit for office by his own MPs. He further said, "This is the most powerful argument you could possibly have for a general election."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace recently ruled himself out of the Tory leadership race and revealed he would "lean towards" supporting Boris Johnson. Wallace was one of the contenders for becoming the UK's next Prime Minister. Wallace further added that there are other candidates who are "just as excellent" and said he is keen to hear Sunak's remarks on defence. Sunak has not confirmed if he is standing to become the next PM but is considered one of the frontrunners.

Amid the ongoing debate regarding UK's new PM,  Foreign Office Minister Jesse Norman shared a piece of advice against Johnson. Taking to Twitter, Norman wrote, "There are several very good potential candidates for Conservative leader. But choosing Boris now would be — and I say this advisedly — an absolutely catastrophic decision."

Despite extending his support to Boris Johnson for the next PM of the UK, Wallace reflected on the parliamentary investigation into Johnson's conduct. He said Johnson "will still have some questions to answer." However, Wallace revealed his reasons behind supporting Johnson and said the latter "invested in defence, he supported me, he supported the actions this country has taken to keep us safe." He added that he hopes Jeremy Hunt will remain in his position as chancellor and he will continue his role in the defence under the new Prime Minister. 

Johnson is currently under an investigation by the Commons Privileges Committee over if he misled the MPs over COVID-19 rule-breaking. Johnson could face suspension or lose his seat if the investigation rules against him.

According to a Downing Street spokesperson, the proceedings of the October 31 fiscal plan will be decided by the UK's new Prime Minister. The Conservative Party will elect a new leader next week. To avoid the need for a lengthy election campaign, the party says it will select a new leader and prime minister by Oct. 28. 

Labour MP Chris Matheson on Friday for “serious sexual misconduct” according to the independent panel that conducted a probe. A Labour spokesperson said  Matheson was immediately suspended from the party following the investigation. "We will now select a candidate that the people of Chester can be proud to vote for," the statement read. Matheson has two complaints of sexual misconduct brought by former member of Matheson's staff to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

Ousted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly extending the olive branch to the ex-British Chancellor Rishi Sunak, according to reports. Johnson has privately asked Sunak to reach out and “get back together”  UK's newspaper Telegraph is reporting, citing the Tory sources. Johnson's party is now seriously considering winning the elections in 2024 and needs one of its own to fight the political race with the Labour. Johnson, therefore, has been trying to make contact with Sunak in order to mend relations. 

As Johnson was ousted, he had allegedly told the Conservative MPs that he wants anyone to become UK Prime Minister but Rishi Sunak. He alleged that Sunak was plotting to topple his leadership for months, The Times then reported, citing officials familiar with the development. Former UK PM had appeared most keen” on foreign secretary Liz Truss.

UK's Labour leader Keir Starmer on Friday said that he was "rather surprised" by the now-deleted tweet shared by the Ukrainian government where it publicly supported the return of Boris Johnson. In a televised interview with British broadcaster Sky news, Starmer said that he was surprised at Ukraine's backing of Johnson.

"As far as Ukraine is concerned, my absolute imperative is to make sure that we’re all supporting Ukraine in the face of aggression from Putin," the Labour MP added.

Ukraine threw support for ousted British prime minister Boris Johnson's return garnering widespread controversy. Taking to the official Twitter account, the Ukraine government shared what was described as a "cheeky meme" featuring Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk that was altered to show the face of Boris Johnson. The message alongside the now-deleted tweet read, Better Call Boris.

Tory MPs that are declaring their public support for the candidates for the UK leadership race are vouching for Rishi Sunak to become the next British PM. The Times, UK's polls show that Sunak is leading with 44 Tories support and Boris Johnson trails behind with 26, while Penny Mordaunt is backed by 15. Sunak may be expecting big numbers later today. 

UK's Lib Dems have tabled a motion in Parliament against Boris Johnson's Prime Minister bid. The motion will block the Tory MPs who may have broken the laws from becoming prime minister again. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper slammed Johnson as “Britain’s Berlusconi” adding that he was unfit to become the leader, as per reports. 

Chair of the powerful 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady on Friday reportedly confirmed there will be hustings for MPs before the actual voting begins for the British Tory leadership contest that will last a week. 

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "still under investigation" for his political scandals, veteran Tory MP Roger Gale reminded, according to Guardian newspaper. The remark came as the ex-UK PM cut short his Caribbean holiday to return to the UK, as he plans to contest in the UK leadership race. If Boris Johnson will be found guilty of contempt of Parliament, he risks suspension from the House of Commons, Gale reminded the British public. 

"We need to remember that Mr Johnson is still under investigation by the privileges committee for potentially misleading the House. Until that investigation is complete and he is found guilty or cleared, there should be no possibility of him returning to government," he was reported as saying by the paper. 

There will be a “wave of revulsion” across Scotland if Boris Johnson becomes prime minister of the UK again, SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford said on Friday. In an interview with BBC Scotland radio, the angry leader asserted that the Tories are “out of touch” and “out of time”. "As we are discussing this morning there’s real concern that the Tories might want to foist Boris Johnson back onto us again - I think there will be a wave of revulsion throughout Scotland," Ian Blackford was quoted as saying on radio show, according to Guardian newsppaer. 

He added: "You really have to think that the Conservatives have learned nothing as to what we’ve gone through and the reason why Boris Johnson had to be swept from office. We can’t continue to see Parliament as a personal plaything of those on the Tory right that want to enact the policies that they’ve been doing."

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer launched attack on the political turbulence of the UK, saying that the British people deserve “so much better” than this “revolving door of chaos." “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 opposition leader said in a statement on Twitter. He urged that the Labour plans to “sort out their [Conservative party’s] mess.”

“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,” he said. “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 next British leader who will succeed Liz Truss is expected to acquire strained diplomatic and economic ties with the EU, UK's biggest trading partner, and has a responsibility to restore the British government's credibility and reliability on the global stage. The new UK Prime Minister will also inherit the post-divorce antagonism and quarrelling over trade rules on the Northern Ireland border. After Truss quit as the premier, the EU now hopes that relations with the UK might improve post-Brexit. 

Credit: AP

Britain's self-image, part of British exceptionalism, part of the national brand has been tattered due to political scandals and uncertainties and events of the past 12 months, Bronwen Maddox, director of the international affairs think tank Chatham House, said in an analysis. With three British prime ministers occupying No. 10 Downing Street after Liz Truss quit Thursday following just 45 days in office, the political image of UK has shattered.

“There is no question that the U.K.’s standing in the world has been severely battered by (Truss’s resignation) and by the revolving door of prime ministers,” said Bronwen Maddox, director of the international affairs think tank Chatham House. “For the UK to regain respect — and an image of reliability — it needs to acquire another soon, one who is capable of putting policies into action,” Maddox added.

In an interview with British broadcaster BBC Newsnight, 1922 Committee Treasurer Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown claimed that the Tories tried to unite around Liz Truss but failed. “We did try but unfortunately a fairly disastrous situation occurred," Clifton-Brown stated in televised remarks. "The best way to do an election is to unite around whichever candidate is either elected on Monday or Friday," he advised the Conservatives. 

Due to the high debt interest payments, UK's borrowing last month shot up to shopping £20bn, much higher levels than was expected by the economists, according to the reports. This paves way for a big challenge for the next British prime minister as the net borrowing has reportedly shot up by an estimated £2.2bn in September last year. Reports, citing the Office for National Statistics also suggest that it is also the second-highest borrowing record for the UK since 1993. 

London mayor Sadiq Khan has called British politics a "laughing stock" for the world in an interview with the American broadcaster CNN. “I’m not somebody who’s easily surprised or easily shocked, but I’m surprised and shocked that just a few weeks after Liz Truss became the Conservative leader and the British prime minister we have the chaos we’ve seen over the last few days and weeks, leading to her resigning today,” Khan was quoted as saying. 

“What we don’t want is yet another internal Conservative leadership contest,” the London mayor said.  “What we need is for Liz Truss or whoever Conservative members choose to be the next leader to give the British public the opportunity of voting for a fresh start.”

As British Prime Minister Liz Truss stepped down, jokes and memes filled social media with many Britons calling Truss as "powerless, humiliated."  Some called Truss a “ghost” prime minister. Others compared her with the head of lettuce, adding that it wasn't a good week for Truss. Truss will remain in office as her Conservative Party prepares to replace her, and the bid is being called increasingly "unusual." Truss appeared before the British public on Thursday and admitted that that she must resign as the prime minister, adding that “mistakes were made.”

As Liz Truss stepped down, Conservative lawmakers are now under pressure to choose a new premier within a week's time.  They would reportedly use a series of secret ballots to shortlist the two candidates and the final decision will be made from that list. UK Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her resignation on Thursday that ended her nearly six-week stint in office marred with financial and economic turmoil.  

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has said that the resignation of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is a  “critical issue” of Northern Ireland. During the European Council meeting in Brussels, Micheál Martin stated that Truss's stepping down indicated that it is a “very difficult time" for British politics. “What’s important as Britain’s nearest neighbor, we have significant economic relationship and many other relationships with the United Kingdom, I think stability is very important,” Martin said, according to the reports. 

As British Prime Minister Liz Truss’ resigned hastily on Thursday becoming the second in just four months, a successor will be chosen in a leadership contest to be completed by the end of next week.  Graham Brady, a senior Conservative lawmaker who oversees the party’s leadership challenges, said that the candidates must have at least 100 nominations from legislators to succeed Truss as the new premier, according to Associated Press.

Among those who will be seen in the leadership race is Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, ex-Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Jeremy Hunt, who has been brought in as the new Treasury chief to steer the economy, has ruled out running.

Potential runners 

RISHI SUNAK, FORMER TREASURY CHIEF

Sunak, 42, contested the leadership race with Truss and garnered 60,399 votes compared to her 81,326. He quit as Treasury chief in July over Boris Johnson's party gate scandals. Sunak had then argued that inflation must be controlled first, and had questioned Truss' economic policies. He had suggested that the taxes must be immediately slashed and had called Truss' policies as reckless as “fairy tales.”

PENNY MORDAUNT, HOUSE OF COMMONS LEADER

Mordaunt, 49, came third after Sunak and Truss in the last Tory leadership race, when she ran with a campaign named “PM 4 PM.” Mordaunt did not hold a senior post in Johnson’s Cabinet, and she positioned herself as offering a clean break from his scandal-tainted government.

A former international trade minister, Mordaunt is popular among Conservative lawmakers. Some believe she could be the right candidate to help heal the party’s divisions. But she is largely an unknown figure to most Britons, and outside Conservative circles she remains best known for appearing on the 2014 reality TV show “Splash!”

SUELLA BRAVERMAN, EX-HOME SECRETARY

Braverman, 42, resigned as Home Secretary late Wednesday, with a scathing letter criticizing Truss’ “tumultuous” premiership. Her move kicked off a chaotic night in British politics that ended in Truss’ resignation hours later. A former barrister who became England’s attorney general in 2020, Braverman was the first to put her hat in the ring during this summer’s leadership race to replace Johnson.

BEN WALLACE, DEFENSE SECRETARY

Wallace, a 52-year-old army veteran, is popular within the Conservative Party. He has won admirers for his straight talk, particularly among Conservative lawmakers who pressed for the UK to increase its defense spending. But he recently said he wanted to remain in his current job. Earlier this week, he reportedly said “I want to be the Secretary of State for Defense until I finish” when asked if he wanted the top job.

BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER PRIME MINISTER

There was intense speculation Thursday that Johnson, 58, may return and put himself forward as prime minister again — just weeks after he was forced out of office by a series of ethics scandals. Within hours of Truss’ resignation, several Conservative allies of Johnson’s voiced their support for him to return.

“The only person who has a mandate from the general public is Boris Johnson,” said one lawmaker, Marco Longhi. “He is the only person who can discharge the mandate from the people.”

(AP report)

British Prime Minister Liz Truss took office last month with hopes and promises of reinvigorating the British economy and putting it on the path to long-term success. It didn’t go to plan.Instead, Truss’ tenure was scarred by turmoil as her economic policies threatened the country’s financial stability, driving the pound to record lows, sparking chaos on bond markets and increasing mortgage costs for millions of people.

Truss took office amid a cost-of-living crisis, the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her decision to announce 105 billion pounds ($116 billion) of tax cuts and spending increases "without providing details" on how she would pay for it unnerved investors, who warned of soaring public debt.

This undermined confidence in the government’s ability to pay its bills and raised questions about the economic credentials of a new prime minister. The disarray surrounding the economic plan weakened Truss’s authority as prime minister, and ultimately led to her decision to resign on Thursday.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

The party says it will select a new leader and prime minister by Oct. 28. Truss will remain prime minister until then. 

To avoid the need for a lengthy election campaign that could have left the country without an effective government for weeks, party leaders decided that lawmakers would have greater say in the choice and without weeks of hustings around the country. Under the expedited process, challengers for the leadership must garner the support of 100 other Conservative lawmakers — out of a total 357 — by Monday afternoon. 

(Associated Press)

British Prime Minister Liz Truss who recently resigned will be eligible for a taxpayer-funded allowance of115,000 pounds ($129,000) a year, lifelong. Truss will be paid under the what UK describe as the Public Duty Costs Allowance. This is a  reimbursement plan that is sponsored by the British government for its staff. The British prime ministers are entitled to the funds for their "special position in public life," UK's government’s website reads. 

As British Prime Minister Liz Truss steps down, it is to be noted that there are only eight premiers thus far who have served less than a year in their role. This includes recently ousted premier Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Major, and Margaret Thatcher. The prime minister who succeeds Truss will be the third prime minister in line since UK's last had a general election. 

As Liz Truss announced her resignation, Tory MPs are now considering who will be standing for the Tory leadership race. As per reports, Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and former UK PM Boris Johnson are emerging as front-runners in the race.  

Liz Truss’ resignation from the post of the UK prime minister has opened floodgates of speculation on who could take over the British office and finally help Britons “ride out the storm”- a phrase that was once used by Truss during her first address as prime minister. As the 47-year-old exits office, here's a look at who could take over.

1. Rishi Sunak

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak could replace the woman he was once runner-up to. Sunak once warned Truss that her plans for tax-cutting and relying on "fairytale economics" would nosedive the country’s dwindling economy.

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Labour Leader Keir Starmer has called for an immediate general election in the UK. In his statement, Starmer said that the people of Britain "deserve so much better than this revolving door of chaos." He stated that the Tory does not have the mandate to "put the country into yet another experiment." Starmer's statement comes after Liz Truss resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after serving only 45 days in office. 

"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," Keir Starmer said in a statement.

Labour Party's deputy leader Angela Rayner has termed the situation in the Tory Party as "utter chaos." Speaking to Sky News, Rayner underscored that the situation in Tory Party has left her "frustrated and angry." According to her, Tory leaders have "lost the confidence" of the people in the UK. She stressed that the 1922 committee appeared like "rabbits in the headlights" as they came in front of the press. 
 

The UK's former Secretary of State for Culture, Nadine Dorries, has called for the return of Boris Johnson as UK Prime Minister. She has retweeted a post shared by the official account of the Ukrainian government on Twitter. The official account of the Ukraine government has offered support for Ukraine in the race for PM by sharing a meme. 
 

Despite political turmoil, the newly appointed UK Home Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that he is "fully focused on the job." In a tweet, "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 replaced Suella Braverman as the new UK Home Secretary after she stepped down.

The official account of the Ukraine government has shared an image endorsing the former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a mockup of the Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul.
 

The Conservative Party said nominations for a new leader will close on Monday. Candidates need the signatures of 100 of the 357 Conservative lawmakers, meaning a maximum field of three. Lawmakers will knock out one of those, and will ask the party’s 172,000 members to decide between the two finalists in an online vote. The new leader is due to be in place by Oct. 28.

As British PM Liz Truss resigned, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council quipped, "Bye Bye Liz Truss, congrats to lettuce". Russia's Medvedev was not the only official from Moscow who responded to British PM Liz Truss' resignation. Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova said that Liz Truss was a disgrace, as per a report from Metro UK. "Britain has never known such a disgrace of a Prime Minister," she said, adding that Truss will be remembered for her "catastrophic illiteracy."

Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley, said he has no idea whether his son would contest elections for the next prime minister. Labelling him a great candidate, Stanley told TalkTV that junior Johnson should run for the elections.
“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.”

Shortly after British Prime Minister Lizz Truss resigned from office, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said he will continue close cooperation with the UK government to meet the global challenges that the two nations face.

Rachel Johnson, Boris Johnson's sister, while answering whether his brother will contest elections for the next UK PM, she told BBC that she doesn't know the next steps for Johnson.
She told BBC that the Tory Party is depleted and jokes that they should just keep the lectern out in Downing Street so that they don't have to "lug it in and out of the revolving door".

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who resigned on Thursday after facing humiliation, was labelled a “ghost” PM and compared unfavourably to a head of lettuce ever since she announced her "nasty" decision. Truss, who will go down in history as Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister, has been facing humiliation from her own party members, with some Conservative MPs publically criticising her policies and comparing her with some humourous objects throughout this week. As she resigned, social media users are now quick to express their views-- from mocking her policies to comparing her with the head of lettuce.
In fact, a leading Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper, the Daily Star set up a live feed showing the unrefrigerated iceberg next to a photo of Truss, and asked its readers "Which wet lettuce will last longer?"
 

Liz Truss will go down in history as Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister, a leader whose grasp on power was so tenuous in recent days it spawned a jokey online contest to see whether she would outlast a head of lettuce. The lettuce won. Some other prime ministers also had very short tenures — but mostly they served some time ago. Liz Truss: 45 days, Conservative; Took office Sept. 6, 2022 and resigned Oct. 20, 2022 with plans to stay in office until a replacement is named.

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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday said she hoped "domestic instability" in the UK caused by the sudden resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss would be "resolved as quickly as possible." "UK-EU relations remain at the foremost of our priorities, making sure the protocol still stands and understanding the impact that Brexit has had on UK citizens living in the EU, EU citizens living in the U.K. and ongoing economic and trade ties," she said.
 

Potential contenders include former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, who lost to Truss in the last leadership contest, House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace — and Boris Johnson, the former prime minister ousted in July over a series of ethics scandals.

Boris Johnson, who was forced to take an unceremonious exit in August, is considering running again to be UK prime minister. According to The Guardian, his aides told the media outlet that the former PM felt it was in the “national interest” for him to stage a return. While another aide said that the Tory heavyweight felt his premiership had been unfairly “cut off before its time” and that he still had plenty to do at No 10.
 

According to the note released by CCHQ, the ballot of party members will be conducted via secure online voting. The ballot will close on Friday 28 October at 1100hrs– and the result will be announced later that day.
 

Hours after the dramatic situation in UK Parliament, the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) announced the dates for the next elections. According to the note released by CCHQ, nominations of the candidates will open tonight and will be closed on Monday, 24 October 2022, at 1400hrs. It said the candidates will need a minimum of 100 nominations to proceed to the ballot.
 

Chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady is currently holding a press conference outside the Parliament with the party chairman, Jake Berry. According to The Guardian, when Berry was asked about the next Prime Minister candidate, he said it might be possible that the MPs will get two choices. It means- there are possibilities that the party will come up with two candidates.

When the United Kingdom walked out of the European Union two years ago, Brexit supporters believed British pragmatism and common sense would not only see them through but also allow their country to flourish as it stood alone. That self-image was, many felt, part of British exceptionalism, part of the national brand. Events of the past 12 months, with three British prime ministers occupying No. 10 Downing Street after Liz Truss quit Thursday following just 45 days in office, have shattered that image.

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In a worsening political crisis, UK's Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservative party's support for the return of the ousted ex-British PM Boris Johnson, asserting that he should be banned from contesting again. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper was reported saying: "The fact that Conservative MPs are even considering putting Boris Johnson back in Number 10 shows how out of touch they really are. They think there’s one rule for them and another for everyone else," according to the Guardian newspaper. "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," he said. 

Speaking at the EU summit, France's President Emmanuel Macron said that he wished that UK makes a rapid return to political stability. His remark was made in reference to Liz Truss' resignation after just barely six weeks in office. Macron was reported saying that he will refrain from making personal comments on British domestic politics."It is important that Great Britain regains political stability very quickly, and that is all I wish," he told reporters in EU. 

UK leadership race will be concluded by October 28, next week, 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady was quoted as saying on Thursday. Samuel Kasumu, former Number 10 special adviser meanwhile told the British press that it will take a lot for rebuilding trust with the British public after Liz Truss’ resignation. He reportedly mulled that the country having the premier for such a short period of time, is not ideal. It will take "months to repair some of the damage that’s been caused," Kasumu was reported saying. 

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on Thursday expressed angst at the resignation of the UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, according to reports. "It will be the fifth one, I believe," he said, pointing at the British political turmoil. "I had good contact with her (Liz Truss) so I'm annoyed for her personally. We agreed on a whole range of views and I'm looking forward to working with who will be my next colleague," Rutte was quoted as saying, 

Former British Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the Tory MPs to 'compromise' in the election of a new premier. "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," she wrote on Twitter.

French president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday reacted to the resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss, saying that he is "sad to see a colleague go." "We want, above all else, stability [in the UK]," he stated. 

Penny Mordaunt has been considering standing in the race for the UK Prime Minister and has been taking advice from political colleagues, British broadcaster Sky is reporting. Justice secretary, Brandon Lewis, is also meanwhile considering to run for the British premiership, according to several reports. 

Labour MP Clive Lewis on Thursday said that ousted British Prime Minister Liz Truss ripped the mandate on 0.02% of the electorate [Tory party members] and lasted just three and a half months in an interview with The Voice. “Lord Frost said he felt sorry for Liz Truss. It’s natural to feel empathy on a human level, but remember she was someone who wanted to absolutely destroy public services and make the lives of my constituents hell. I won’t shed a tear for someone who was causing the disaster," he asserted in a scathing attack on Truss premiership. 

“Boris Johnson was elected with 44% and Liz Truss ripped up the mandate on 0.02% of the electorate [Tory party members] and lasted just three and a half months. Now the selectorate will be 0.0008% of the electorate [Tory MPs]. In a parliamentary democracy we cannot have this. We need a General Election now," said Labour MP Clive Lewis. 

"[Liz]Truss deserved to fall," Diane Abbott MP tweeted. "I have never known a prime minister so humiliated. Never seen one who deserved it more. Time for #GeneralElection2022," she wrote.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, during her weekly press briefing on current foreign affairs, called outgoing UK Prime Minister liz Truss as "disgrace for a prime minister." Zakharova stated that “Britain has never known such a disgrace of a prime minister,” adding that she will be remembered for her “catastrophic illiteracy”.

UK's Conservative MP Sir James Duddridge, Johnson's former parliamentary private secretary (PPS), on Thursday said on Twitter addressing Boris Johnson: "Hope you enjoyed your extended holiday. It is time to come back, Boris."Meanwhile, Conservative MP Sir Robert Syms questioned Johnson's return to premiership, dismissing the idea of Boris Johnson running for the Tory leadership again as "a fantasy".

"The number for nomination will be lifted to limit runners and there will be massive pressure on the second candidate in MPs ballot to drop out," the backbencher wrote on Twitter.

Conservative MP Sir Robert Syms says it is “mad” to think that Boris Johnson can become UK PM again. He reacted to MP Brendan Clarke-Smith's statement to Sky News that he wants to see Johnson return. The latter claimed that Johnson was “very popular” in his “red wall” constituency, adding that "the only person that I think ticks all those boxes is Boris Johnson."

UK's broadcaster The Sun has confirmed citing internal sources that ousted UK PM Boris Johnson is planning to cut short his holiday and return to the UK amid the ongoing political turmoil in Britain. This comes as speculations arose that Suella Braverman, Liz Truss' home secretary who has also stepped down also plans to run for the leadership. 

"She's weighing it up, she has not made a final decision yet," UK's Telegraph has quoted her coleagues as saying.  "There definitely needs to be a candidate of the Right. Everyone who backed her in the summer is now messaging each other saying 'lets do this , let's get the gang back together'."

The only person that "ticks all boxes" for the next Prime Minister of the UK is Boris Johnson, Brendan Clarke-Smith, a Tory MP, told Sky news, adding that he wants the ousted British leader to return.  "What we need now, we need someone who can come in, who can bring people together, somebody who actually has that mandate, a mandate from the people at the last general election, a mandate from party members and somebody actually who can get this party going again, get us winning elections again. The only person that I think ticks all those boxes is Boris Johnson" said Brendan Clarke-Smith.

US President Joe Biden has thanked outgoing UK PM Liz Truss. “The United States and the United Kingdom are strong Allies and enduring friends — and that fact will never change," he wrote on Twitter. “I thank Prime Minister Liz Truss for her partnership on a range of issues including holding Russia accountable for its war against Ukraine," he stated. 

“We will continue our close cooperation with the U.K. government as we work together to meet the global challenges our nations face," said US President Joe Biden.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said that she is "sorry to see the Prime Minister step down," according to her official statement released Thuraday. The new Tory leader must be someone "we can all get behind," he stated.

"I am sorry to see the Prime Minister step down. However, she was clear that she was not able to deliver her mandate, and I respect her decision. What is important now is that the Conservative Party acts quickly to elect a new leader, one we can all get behind," said Jack. “The UK Government has acted swiftly to support families and businesses, to help people through the winter, in the face of very significant global challenges. There is much more to be done, and we need to unite and continue to deliver for people in our country," he added. 

Ousted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reportedly stand in the Tory leadership again after Liz Truss turned in her resignation, according to British press sources. Johnson stepped down as the UK PM and exited the No 10 on September 6 due to the controversy surroinding the partygate and other political scandals. 

Truss resigned on Thursday saying that she had agreed to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, that there "there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week" and that she will remain in No 10 "until a successor has been chosen". 

After the British PM Liz Truss stepped down from her role, ex-British chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly expected to “stand” for the premiership, the Telegraph has confirmed, citing his campaign source. The UK1922 Committee executive is expected to hold a meeting between 5 pm and 7 pm to once again discuss the leadership race. 

Sterling has pushed higher against the dollar after UK's Prime Minister Liz Truss confirmed her resignation.

The pound wiped out earlier losses and rose 0.5pc to trade at $1.1276. UK bonds, which have been plagued by turmoil in recent weeks, extended their gains, with the yield on the 10-year gilt falling to 3.76pc.

Ms Truss’s resignation is offering some reassurance to investors after weeks of turmoil sparked by last month’s huge package of unfunded tax cuts.

Following the announcement of her decision to step down as UK's PM, Truss tweeted, "We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance. We have continued to stand with Ukraine and to protect our own security. And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit."

In a statement, 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."

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."

Sir Graham Brady iterates it will be possible to conduct a leadership ballot by 28 October.

He says:

"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 the 28th of October.

So we should have a new leader in place before the fiscal statement which will take place on the 31st."

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, is expected to give a statement shortly in the wake of Liz Truss's resignation.

This is according to Tory MP Simon Fell. The statement will likely reveale more details of how the leadership contest will run.

"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 ."

Labelling the political chaos in the UK "beyond hyperbole - & parody,"  Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon called for a General Election stating that it "is now a democratic imperative."

Truss stated that she has spoken with the King to notify him about her decision to step down as the UK's Prime Minister and the leader of the Conservative party.

Earlier she 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:
This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security.

Truss said she would remain as prime minister until a successor is chosen.

Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister after just 44 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. Her stint as the UK PM saw her crash the markets, lose two key ministers and shed the confidence of almost all her own MPs.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is about to make a statement following talks in Downing Street with the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, the deputy prime minister Thérèse Coffey and Conservative party chairman, Jake Berry.

Truss is expected to issue a statement imminently, according to Downing Street sources, prompting intense speculation that she is on the brink of resigning as prime minister after just 44 days, following the near-complete evaporation of her political authority, a process begun by last month’s disastrous mini-budget.

Another Tory MP has submitted a public letter of no confidence in Liz Truss.

Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer, who was elected in a by-election in 2021, shared an image on her Facebook page.

She wrote: "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."

More than a dozen MPs have publicly called for the prime minister to resign.

Davis said it was “inevitable” there would be enough letters of no confidence submitted and urged the party’s 1922 Committee to come up with a fast process to elect a new leader. He told ITV News:

I feel very sorry for Liz Truss right now but what is happening could be existential for the Conservative party.

He suggested increasing the number of nominations needed from MPs from 20 to 30 or 40 or 50, so only a handful of candidates can get through. “Then we could have a vote of MPs within days,” he said.

Amid the growing calls for UK PM Liz Truss to resign, Downing Street has denied that there is any change to Liz Truss’ plan to stay in No 10 beyond the fiscal plan on 31 October.

"No plans for any change. The prime minister will continue beyond the 31st," a spokesperson for the PM told reporters, as per the Guardian. The spokesperson added that "Truss acknowledges yesterday was a difficult day,"

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 Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee.

Liz Truss is currently meeting with the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, according to Downing Street, as per the Guardian. This comes as several Tory MPs are reportedly asking PM Truss to resign immediately.

An investigation has been launched citing parliament disorder in the House of Commons where Tory MPs were accused of "manhandling" their colleagues into voting.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle announced he has asked the Serjeant-at-Arms and other officials to investigate allegations made about incidents in the House of Commons on Wednesday night.

The Tory MP for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double, has called for the exit of UK PM Liz Truss. In a statement, Steve Double has said that Truss has lost control of the government and the confidence of Conservative MPs, The Guardian reported. He even called on the party members to unite behind a candidate like Rishi Sunak to replace Truss. 
 

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will make a statement to parliament on Ukraine. He will make the address to the parliament after he returned from the US. During his visit, Wallace held a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and US NSA Jake Sullivan. 

The UK's former Secretary of State for Culture, Nadine Dorries, has called for the return of Boris Johnson as UK PM. Dorries in a tweet stated, "One person was elected by the British public with a manifesto and a mandate until January ‘25. If Liz Truss is no longer PM there can be no coronation of previously failed candidates. MPs must demand the return of @BorisJohnson - if not it has to be a leadership election or a GE." She further said, "It is inconceivable that we could continue to face the world parading the notion that we are a democracy. A coronation is the transfer of power out of the hands of the people and into the offices of a few already extremely powerful men in grey suits. It would be an abomination." 

Tory MP Crispin Blunt has said that UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt should be made Prime Minister, Sky News reported. Blunt said that Jeremy Hunt in a few days has made the "first critical contribution to restoring the primacy of serving the national interest. He stressed that Hunt should complete the work as UK's next PM. He emphasised that the time up to the general election is an "opportunity" for Conservatives to restore a "reputation for competent administration."
 

Tory MP Henry Smith has called for the exit of UK PM Liz Truss. Smith said that the party needs "new leadership" and stressed that Truss needs to admit that she has made "wrong calls consistently" since assuming office. He also praised former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his leadership. 
 

British Prime Minister Liz Truss described herself as "a fighter and not a quitter" Wednesday as she faced down hostile opposition and fury from her own Conservative Party over her botched economic plan.

Truss attended her first session of Prime Minister’s Questions since newly appointed Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt ripped up the tax-cutting package unveiled by her new government less than a month ago. She apologised to Parliament and admitted she made mistakes during her short tenure as the U.K.'s head of government.

Some lawmakers shouted "Resign!" as she spoke.

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UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has announced that he has directed officials to launch an investigation into allegations of "manhandling" during voting on Wednesday, 19 October. In his statement to MPs, Hoyle said, "I wish to say something about the reports of behaviour in the division lobbies last night. I have asked the serjeant at arms and other senior officials to investigate the incident and report back to me. I will then update the house."

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has called for an immediate general election in the UK. He has accused the government led by Liz Truss of being too involved in "pathetic squabbles" to govern Britain, The Guardian reported. He underscored that Conservatives have reached a "new chaotic low" after the exit of UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman. He made the statement while speaking to union delegates at the TUC congress in Brighton.

Labour MP Chris Bryant has called for an investigation into incidents in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 19 October. He alleged that the members were "manhandled" and "bullied" during the voting. He said that one member was "manhandled" and "bullied" in the voting lobby. Speaking to Sky News, Bryant said that some Conservative members were "completely uncertain" about whether they will be permitted to vote with the Labour motion. 

The UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has granted Labour's Yvette Cooper an urgent question on the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Labour's decision comes after Braverman resigned as Home Secretary of the UK on Wednesday, 19 October. UK PM Liz Truss has appointed Grant Shapps as the new Home Secretary of Britain. 
 

Former UK Cabinet Minister Grant Shapps has taken over as Home Secretary after the resignation of Suella Braverman. She resigned from the post on Wednesday, 19 October, and is the second senior minister in a week to leave the government led by Liz Truss. 

The Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, Sheryll Murray has said that she has presented the letter to Sir Graham Brady. In a tweet, Murray said, "I agree with @garystreeterSWD. I had high hopes for Liz Truss but after what happened last night her position has become untenable and I have submitted a letter to Sir Graham Brady." Notably, Gary Streeter has also called for the exit of Liz Truss. 

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Conservative MP Simon Hoare has warned UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has "12 hours" to save her job. Speaking to BBC News, Hoare called today and tomorrow "crunch days" for the government. 

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has called on Conservative Party members to show unity until 31 October. Speaking to Sky News, Ellwood said that the current situation needs a "two-phase plan" to "prevent a collapse of the government." He stated that the first stage is "collective discipline" to allow the Chancellor to make an address on Halloween. According to him, the second stage would be for PM Liz Truss to demonstrate commitment to "honestly addressing this question of leadership with the 1922 Committee and the cabinet".
 

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman left her job on Wednesday, the second senior minister in a week to leave Prime Minister Liz Truss’ government. It was not immediately clear whether she quit or was fired.

Braverman, appointed less than two months ago, is a popular figure on the ruling Conservative Party’s right-wing and a champion of more restrictive immigration policies.

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