BREAKING: Liz Truss to stand down as Conservative party leader setting off fresh bid for the role of Prime Minister
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced she is to stand down as Conservative party leader triggering a fresh run for the role Prime Minister.
She made the announcement today outside Downing Street while accompanied by her husband Hugh O'Leary.
It comes after a difficult 44 days in office which was marked by the death of the HM Queen Elizabeth II, a mini-budget reversal and the loss of two cabinet ministers.
Her premiership is believed to be one of the shortest in UK parliamentary history.
A leadership campaign will now have to be held in due course to decide who will lead the country and the Conservative party.
It is expected within the next week.
Ms Truss met with the chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady earlier today before making her resignation statement.
She also said she had spoken to King Charles III before making her announcement.
She mentioned financial instability and the war in Ukraine during her short speech before saying she "could not deliver her mandate" on which she had been elected.
Ms Truss will remain in office until a successor has been found.
Political experts have suggested Penny Mordaunt, Ben Wallace and Rishi Sunak are in the running for the top job.
Jeremy Hunt who replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor earlier this month has ruled himself out of the running.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for General Election.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the developments as an "utter shambles".
