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Sun, 24 November 2024

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By Mark White, HW Brands, Iwan Morgan and Anthony Eames
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Opposition Parties Call For General Election Amid 'Mess' And 'Utter Shambles' Of Liz Truss Resignation

Labour leader Keir Starmer is among the opposition leaders calling for a General Election (Alamy)

3 min read

Opposition politicians are calling for a general election following the “mess” and “utter shambles” in government that has led to Liz Truss’s resignation as Prime Minister.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon are among those calling for the general public to get a vote 

Truss bowed to pressure from her own MPs and announced her resignation this afternoon after just 44 days in Downing Street, during which she oversaw the mini-Budget which triggered uncertainty in the markets, and lost both her Chancellor and Home Secretary.

She confirmed that there would be a Conservative party leadership election “within the next week,” after which she will leave office. 

The successful candidate will become the third Conservative leader and Prime Minister in four months, and it is expected that the party membership will get a say. 

Starmer decried the “mess” in government this afternoon and called for an end to what he called the “revolving door of chaos.” 

Speaking to broadcasters this afternoon, he said: “This is not just a soap opera at the top of the Tory party, it’s doing huge damage to our economy and to the reputation of our country. 

“The public are paying with higher prices,with higher mortgages. 

“We can’t have a revolving door of chaos, we can’t have another experiment at the top of the Tory party. There is an alternative and that’s a stable Labour government, and the public are entitled to have their say. 

“And that’s why there should be a general election.” 

Similarly, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Tory MPs to do their “patriotic duty” and “give the people a say.” 

Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy," he said. 

"The Conservatives have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country. 

“We do not need another Conservative Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis, we need a general election, we need the Conservatives out of power and we need real change.

“It is time for Conservative MPs to do their patriotic duty, put the country first and give the people a say.”

Meanwhile, SNP leader Sturgeon tweeted: "There are no words to describe this utter shambles adequately. It's beyond hyperbole - and parody.

"Reality though is that ordinary people are paying the price. The interests of the Tory party should concern no-one right now.

"A general election is now a democratic imperative."

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