Liz Truss news – live: Graham Brady meets PM at No 10 as Tory MPs demand resignation

Liz Truss is currently meeting with the chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives Sir Graham Brady as pressure mounts on the prime minister to resign.

Tory MPs are openly revolting against the prime minister as one rebel said she has only 12 hours to save her job.

Conservative MP Simon Hoare said Thursday and Friday are “crunch days” for the government.

Lord David Frost, a former Brexit minister who backed Truss for PM, is the latest Tory to call for the prime minister go.

He said the party was going in “completely the wrong direction.”

In extraordinary scenes at Westminster, cabinet ministers Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg were among a group of senior Tories accused of pressuring colleagues to go into the “no” lobby, with Labour former minister Chris Bryant saying some MPs had been “physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied”.

Key points

• 'Manhandling’ allegations over fracking vote

• PM ‘has 12 hours to save job’ as more MPs demand resignation

• Labour MP claims whip ‘cried on his shoulder’ amid fracking vote chaos

• Sturgeon condemns 'utter shambles' in Commons

• More MPs ask for Truss to resign

• Suella Braverman shares resignation letter she sent to Liz Truss

BREAKING: Sir Graham Brady enters No10 for meeting with Liz Truss

11:55 , Thomas Kingsley

Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs has entered No10 for a meeting with Liz Truss.

It comes after growing pressure has mounted on Liz Truss to resign as prime minister following the fallout from her mini-Budget and the chaos that unfolded yesterday in Westminster following a confidence vote on a Labour fracking motion.

Watch: Labour’s Keir Starmer renews calls for general election

11:45 , Thomas Kingsley

More Tory MPs call for Liz Truss to resign

11:15 , Thomas Kingsley

Hendon Conservative MP Matthew Offord becomes the latest rebel to call for Liz Truss to resign.

He said Ms Truss needed to agree on a “dignified exit” from No 10. He told the Evening Standard: “I can't see the situation being sustainable.

“She does need to sit down and discuss it with her Cabinet and with others to manage some kind of dignified exit.”

Tory MP Steve Double has joined calls for his party to unite behind a candidate such as Rishi Sunak to replace Liz Truss after scenes in the Commons that he said “were unprecedented and beggars belief”.

Reiterating his call for the prime minister to go, the St Austell and Newquay MP issued a statement saying: “The prime minister has lost control of the government and the confidence of Conservative MPs.

“For the good of the country, she needs to resign.”

Tory MP Henry Smith has called for Liz Truss to go as he warned “solid leadership” has been “distinctly lacking” from Downing Street in recent weeks.

He told Times Radio: "I think we need new leadership. I think she should do the honourable thing and say that her premiership has made the wrong calls, not just once or twice but consistently since coming into office almost two months ago, and that now it's time for strong leadership to come back to this country.

MP ‘does not know’ if she is still a Conservative MP after abstaining in fracking vote

11:00 , Thomas Kingsley

Tory MP Siobhan Baillie said she does not know if she is still a Conservative MP after choosing to abstain from a key vote on Wednesday afternoon.

In extraordinary scenes at Westminster, cabinet ministers Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg were among a group of senior Tories accused of pressuring colleagues to go into the “no” lobby, with Labour former minister Chris Bryant saying some MPs had been “physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied”.

Writing on Twitter Ms Baillie said: “Environmental issues are hugely important to my constituents. I abstained on the vote last night, knowing the potential consequences. For those asking whether I am still a Conservative MP - I don’t know but I hope so.”

Truss wants to reappoint Braverman as home secretary ‘in new year,’ Tory MP says

10:50 , Thomas Kingsley

Tory MP Steve Baker has said Downing Street told him Liz Truss would like to reappoint Suella Braverman as home secretary “in the new year”.

Ms Braverman dramatically quit the prime minister’s cabinet on Wednesday with a swipe at the direction of her government and has since been replaced by Grant Shapps.

But Mr Baker, who is MP for Wycombe, said that he was told by No 10 that the “prime minister would like to be able to reappoint Suella in the new year”.

He told Times Radio: “In the course of doing this media round, which I was asked to do by Number 10, I did speak with Number 10 and they invited me to say that the prime minister would like to reappoint Suella in the new year. So that is a measure of the resilience of the prime minister.”

Read the full story below:

Truss wants to reappoint Braverman as home secretary ‘in new year,’ Tory MP says

‘Just a bit of mutual support is needed,’ minister says

10:34 , Zoe Tidman

Anne-Marie Trevelyan called for “mutual support” in the Conservative Party.

Asked if Liz Truss will still be in charge on Friday, the minister told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Yes, she will.”

Put to her that a seventh Tory MP, Gary Streeter, has said the party should ditch the prime minister, Ms Trevelyan said: “Just a bit of mutual support is what’s needed.”

PA

Conservative Party ‘cannot delay’ in removing Liz Truss as prime minister

10:30 , Thomas Kingsley

Conservative MP Henry Smith has told Matt Chorley on Times Radio that the Tory Party “can't delay” in removing Liz Truss as prime minister.

“I think events will probably gain momentum in the coming hours and days... I think members should be involved as much as possible in choosing the leader. But as you have pointed out, and many others, time is pressing, and we can't delay."

Live: Grant Shapps faces Labour in urgent questions as Tory turmoil grows

10:22 , Thomas Kingsley

Live: Grant Shapps faces Labour in urgent questions as Tory turmoil grows

ICYMI: Liz Truss government rocked by day of chaos

10:19 , Zoe Tidman

It has been a chaotic past 24 hours in Westminster - which included the shock dismissal of her home secretary followed within hours by the threatened resignation of her chief whip.

Andrew Woodcock, our political editor, has more on what exactly happened yesterday:

Fracking vote ‘catastrophic result for our climate’ - Corbyn

10:01 , Zoe Tidman

Jeremy Corbyn has drawn attention to what the fracking vote actually means aside from the Westminster chaos:

Liz Truss has ‘12 hours to save job,’ Tory MP says

09:47 , Thomas Kingsley

Conservative MP Simon Hoare said Thursday and Friday are "crunch days" for the government.

Asked if Liz Truss is “up to the job”, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “I think she could be. I think it's... one can't say hand on heart today that there is a... if this was a career review, an employer sitting in front of a person looking at performance and outcomes etc, then the score sheet isn't looking very good.

“But I'm a glass half full sort of person. Can the ship be turned around? Yes. But I think there's about 12 hours to do it.

“I think today and tomorrow are crunch days. I have never known - OK, I've only been an MP for seven years - but a growing sense of pessimism in all wings of the Tory party.

“Usually it's one or the other, but to have it across the party should be ringing alarm bells in both Number 10 and Number 11.”

Home Office after Braverman departure

09:45 , Zoe Tidman

Here is Lizzie Dearden, our home affairs editor, on what’s going on at the Home Office:

Tory MP calls for Liz Truss to resign

09:39 , Thomas Kingsley

Tory MP Gary Streeter said the party must ditch Liz Truss.

“Sadly, it seems we must change leader BUT even if the angel Gabriel now takes over, the parliamentary party has to urgently rediscover discipline, mutual respect and teamwork if we are to (i) govern the UK well and (ii) avoid slaughter at the next election,” he said on Twitter, adding the hashtag last chance.

Tory MP says there is ‘anger, despair and sadness’ over No 10 operation

09:30 , Zoe Tidman

A Tory MP has said his colleagues feel “anger, despair and sadness” about the current No 10 operation.

“It’s hand-to-hand fighting on a day-to-day basis. It’s unsettling,” Simon Hoare said.

Watch him make the comments here:

What about the Tory MPs who did vote against the government?

09:17 , Zoe Tidman

Anne-Marie Trevelyan says “appropriate discipline” will be taken against the MPs who did not support the government in the fracking vote unless they had a valid reason.

See here:

The confidence vote confusion

09:01 , Zoe Tidman

It’s a new day, but the confusion over whether the fracking vote was actually a confidence motion or not.

Let’s work backwards from what just happened:

Thursday morning

Anne Marie-Trevelyan was asked this morning on Sky News whether it was a vote of confidence in the prime minister.

She said it was not - but rather just a three-line whip for a “very important” vote:

Earlier - precisely 1.33am - on Thursday

No 10 sent out a press statement at 1.33amt this morning saying it had been treated as one.

Here is a reminder of what it said.

Wednesday evening - minutes before fracking vote

A climate minister told MPs it was “quite clearly” not a confidence motion just minutes before the vote was to go ahead.

The No 10 statement said Downing Street had “mistakenly” told Graham Stuart to say this.

Earlier Wednesday

This is where it all started. The Tory deputy chief whip declared a Labour attempt to ban the return of fracking “a confidence motion” – a status normally given to a vote on the future of a government itself.

An email to Tory MPs said there would be “a 100 per cent hard 3 line whip” over the vote.

It added: “This is not a motion on fracking. This is a confidence motion in the government.”

Rob Merrick, the deputy political editor, reported on the intervention at the time:

Tory MPs ordered to defeat Labour attempt to ban fracking or lose party whip

‘It seems we must change leader' - Tory MP

08:55 , Zoe Tidman

Another Tory MP has called for Liz Truss to go:

BREAKING: Cabinet minister refuses to say Liz Truss will survive

08:51 , Zoe Tidman

A Cabinet minister refused to predict Liz Truss will survive in No 10 until the general election – saying “at the moment, I think that’s the case”.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan laid bare the deepening crisis in Downing Street – following the breakdown of discipline in the fracking vote – which has led some Tory MPs to call for the prime minister to be forced out today.

Rob Merrick, our deputy political editor, reports:

‘I think that’s the case’: Cabinet minister refuses to say Liz Truss will survive

Minister ‘shocked’ to hear accounts from last night

08:45 , Zoe Tidman

The transport secretary says she was “shocked” to hear the manhandling allegations from the fracking vote last night:

Minister ‘didn’t see supposed argy-bargy’ over fracking vote

08:30 , Zoe Tidman

Anne-Marie Trevelyan said she had not seen any of the “supposed argy-bargy” in the lobbies, but it “worries” her it there was “poor behaviour” by anyone.

The minister told Times Radio: “We are... one of the most respected parliaments in the world because we believe in a democracy and the freedom that we give our MPs to vote as they see fit.”

PA

Tory MP says Truss should have never put herself forward for PM

08:19 , Zoe Tidman

Another Tory MP has launched a blistering attack on Liz Truss on the Today programme:

Fracking vote confusion over ‘confidence vote'

08:00 , Zoe Tidman

This was not the only drama over the fracking vote last night.

There was also confusion over whether it was a confidence vote, with a claimte minister saying it was “quite clearly not” minutes before the ballot.

The deputy chief whip had earlier issued a “100% hard” three-line whip, meaning any Tory MP who rebelled could be thrown out of the parliamentary party.

No 10 later said the minister had been “mistakenly” told by Downing Street to say the vote should not be treated as a confidence motion and Conservative MPs were “fully aware” it was subject to a three-line whip.

Journalists received this information at 1.30am this morning:

PA

BREAKING: Cabinet minister demands investigation into ‘manhandling’ of Tory MPs in fracking vote

07:54 , Zoe Tidman

Cabinet minister demands inquiry into ‘manhandling’ of Tory MPs in fracking vote

Fracking vote allegations

07:44 , Zoe Tidman

The government won a key vote on fracking – seen as a test of Liz Truss’s authority – last night.

Its victory was, however, overshadowed by claims that Tory whips had physically manhandled and bullied backbenchers into backing the prime minister’s administration.

A Labour former minister called for an investigation into events, while a Conservative MP described the chaos as “inexcusable” and an “absolute disgrace”.

Lamiat Sabin and Jane Dalton report:

Tory MPs ‘bullied and manhandled’ in chaotic fracking vote

Labour MP claims whip ‘cried on his shoulder’

07:39 , Zoe Tidman

A former Labour minister said he had never seen scenes like the ones that unfolded ahead of the fracking vote in the Commons yesterday.

Chris Bryant told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Honestly, this was the most extraordinary scene that I’ve seen in my time, and anyway, even if it has happened in the past, that is not how we should do our business - we are not the Italian parliament - and all of this is happening because there is complete chaos in government.”

He added: “I had Tory MPs later in the evening literally, including one whip actually, crying on my shoulder. They are in the territory of being utterly desperate about what’s going on.”

Liz Truss government rocked by day of chaos

07:20 , Stuti Mishra

From sacked home secretary Suella Braverman’s savage assault on “broken pledges” to allegations of bullying in the House of Commons and Liss Truss’s vow to “fight, not quit”, here’s everything that happened yesterday summarised by our political editor Andrew Woodcock.

Read here:

Liz Truss government rocked by day of chaos

Video: Liz Truss’s current political troubles depicted in Belfast mural

07:00 , Stuti Mishra

A mural in Belfast of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak has been updated to reflect the prime minister’s current political turmoil.

Painted by artist Ciaran Gallagher, the Hill Street mural previously depicted Ms Truss and Mr Sunak as opponents in a boxing ring as the Tory leadership contest was underway.

The prime minister is shown as a two-headed person wearing clothes adorned with the Union Jack and EU flag, holding pieces of paper that appear to refer to her U-turn on the abolishment of the 45p tax rate.

Watch:

Inflation rising again is the last thing this fragile government needs

06:40 , Stuti Mishra

“The foundational error of the Truss administration was to place ‘growth, growth, growth’ ahead of anything. It led to a disastrous mini-Budget and panic in the gilt market, but it has also skewed the terms of political debate,” writes Sean O’Grady.

Read more:

Analysis: Inflation rising again is the last thing this fragile government needs

Commons chaos an 'absolute disgrace', says 'livid' senior Tory MP

06:26 , Stuti Mishra

Chaotic scenes in the House of Commons have been condemned as “inexcusable” and an “absolute disgrace”, by a senior Tory backbencher.

Sir Charles Walker, a former vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, said he was “livid” about recent turmoil and warned that unless the party starts to “behave like grown-ups” then “perhaps 200” MPs could find themselves out of jobs.

Those who helped put Liz Truss into power as prime minister also have a lot to answer for, he added.“I’ve really not seen anything like tonight,” he told BBC News, speaking after Labour’s motion on fracking was defeated by 230 votes to 326 and the chaos that erupted over whether or not it was a no confidence vote.

Lucy Skoulding has more:

‘Livid’ Tory backbencher says he has ‘had enough of talentless people’

More MPs ask for Truss to resign

05:42 , Stuti Mishra

More MPs are calling for Liz Truss to step down after another chaotic day in Westminster which saw the acrimonious resignation of her home secretary, mayhem in the Commons over a fracking vote and confusion over whether the chief and deputy chief whip had quit.

Former Brexit minister Lord David Frost is the latest Tory to join calls for Ms Truss to step down.

“As Suella Braverman made so clear this afternoon, the government is implementing neither the programme Liz Truss originally advocated nor the 2019 manifesto. It is going in a completely different direction,” the Conservative peer, who backed Ms Truss to be prime minister, wrote in The Telegraph.

Sir Charles Walker, a veteran Tory backbencher, said on Wednesday night that he expected Truss to resign “very soon”, and that he was “really pleased” at Ms Braverman’s resignation.

“I expect the prime minister to resign very soon because she’s not up to her job either … I will shed no tears for either of them,” he told BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight.

William Wragg, a Conservative MP, said he has written a letter to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, calling for a vote of no confidence in Ms Truss.

Blackford says PM would quit if she had 'an ounce of decency'

05:20 , Stuti Mishra

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called for Liz Truss to resign and said she would do so if she had “an ounce of decency or any self-respect”.

The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber added: “The utter chaos at the centre of the Tory government cannot continue any longer. It’s wrecking the economy and damaging people’s mortgages, pensions and incomes.

“If she had an ounce of decency, or any self-respect, the prime minister would resign before she is inevitably forced from office. And then there must be an election.”

Sturgeon condemns 'utter shambles' in Commons

05:13 , Stuti Mishra

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned chaotic scenes in the House of Commons as an “utter shambles”, calling for a general election to be held.

Responding to reports about the chief whip resigning, the first minister tweeted: “An utter shambles. This can’t go on. General Election now.”

This comes following a tumultuous evening in Westminster which saw the departure of Suella Braverman as home secretary followed by bullying allegations in the lobby outside the Commons.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy apologises for swearing at Steve Baker

02:00 , Katy Clifton

Channel 4 newscaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy has apologised “unreservedly” to Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker after swearing at him in an “unguarded moment”.

The broadcaster said the remark followed a “robust interview” with Mr Baker but it was “beneath the standards I set myself”.

During an off-air moment after his exchange with Mr Baker, Mr Guru-Murthy was heard to say “what a c***”.

He later tweeted: “After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air. While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly.

“I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry.”

‘Something has to give’: Former Brexit minister joins calls for Liz Truss to resign

Thursday 20 October 2022 00:57 , Katy Clifton

‘Something has to give’: Former Brexit minister joins calls for Liz Truss to resign

Thursday 20 October 2022 00:08 , Katy Clifton

Meanwhile, Emily Thornberry criticised Suella Braverman and Penny Mordaunt for using trans people as a “political football”.

In a speech at the PinkNews Awards 2022, the shadow attorney general said: “It is completely irresponsible for politicians like Suella Braverman to use trans people as a political football.

“There are all kinds of people who may think that it’s somehow or other a good idea to trample on the necks of trans people when it comes to potential leadership contests.

“And I’m not mentioning any name, Penny Mordaunt.

“This is serious stuff, this is life and death stuff. We have an obligation, we have an obligation to the most vulnerable. We should not play games with this.”

Fracking vote chaos just ‘storm in teacup,’ says Sir Roger Gale

Wednesday 19 October 2022 23:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Senior Tory backbencher Sir Roger Gale has claimed that Liz Truss could emerge stronger after Suella Braverman’s resignation and that the chaotic fracking vote was just a “storm in a teacup”.

The North Thanet MP told the PA news agency: “On balance, at the end of today I would say, in a peculiar way – and it is peculiar – Truss might come out of it stronger. I may be completely wrong and out of touch”.

He said the shambolic Commons vote – that saw Jacob Rees-Mogg and Therese Coffey accused of manhandling an MP to force him to vote against Labour’s proposals to reinstate a ban on fracking – had been a “storm in a teacup”.

Sir Roger claims that appointing Grant Shapps to succeed Ms Braverman could put Ms Truss in a stronger position now that Jeremy Hunt has replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor.

Asked whether there was momentum building to remove the Prime Minister, he said: “No, quite the reverse actually. People aren’t overjoyed. We’re not very happy, but that’s different from wanting to unseat the Prime Minister.”

Lord Frost: ‘Truss just can’t stay in office'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 23:12 , Katy Clifton

Tory former Brexit minister Lord Frost has joined calls for Liz Truss to resign.

“As Suella Braverman made so clear this afternoon, the Government is implementing neither the programme Liz Truss originally advocated nor the 2019 manifesto. It is going in a completely different direction,” he wrote in the Telegraph.

“There is no shred of a mandate for this. It’s only happening because the Truss Government messed things up more badly than anyone could have imagined, and enabled a hostile takeover by its opponents.

“Something has to give.

“Truss just can’t stay in office for one very obvious reason: she campaigned against the policies she is now implementing.

“However masterfully she now implements them – and it doesn’t seem that it will be very masterfully – it just won’t do. She said she wouldn’t U-turn, and then she did.”

‘Money, Money, Money’ and ‘Mad World’ blasted outside No 10

Wednesday 19 October 2022 23:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Protesters are holding a musical demonstration outside Downing Street by playing a number of big hits after Liz Truss and her government’s reputation got another pummelling today.

One of the songs played during the filming of tonight’s news bulletins was ‘Mad World’ by Tears for Fears – to match the mood of the bleak but bizarre accusations of bullying and manhandling in the Commons during a vote on banning fracking.

ABBA’s ‘Money, Money, Money’ has also been heard, and the themetunes of the slapstick comedies Benny Hill and Laurel & Hardy.

Truss on tomorrow’s front pages: ‘Another day of chaos’ for PM

Wednesday 19 October 2022 22:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Independent: Braverman out in another day of chaos for Truss

Guardian: Braverman’s bombshell puts Truss on the brink

i: Chaos at the heart of UK Government

Metro: Suellavamess!

Financial Times: Truss team plunged into chaos by exit of Braverman

Morning Star: Blundertruss

City A.M.: Truss: I’ll fight on

Daily Star: Lettuce Liz is cut to shreds

The New European: What next?

C4’s Guru-Murthy apologises for calling Steve Baker ‘a c***’

Wednesday 19 October 2022 22:07 , Lamiat Sabin

Channel 4 news anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy has apologised “unreservedly” for calling former minister Steve Baker a “c***”.

The journalist said it happened in an “unguarded moment” after an interview with the former Northern Ireland minister.

During an off-air moment after his interview with Mr Baker, the mic caught Mr Guru-Murthy saying “what a c***”.

Mr Baker said he appreciates the apology and thanked him for it, but later told Times Radio that he wishes Channel 4 sacks him.

You can read the full story here:

Krishnan Guru-Murthy apologises for calling Steve Baker ‘a c***’ during livestream

Chief and deputy whip Morton and Whittaker ‘remain in post'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 21:59 , Lamiat Sabin

The Conservative chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker remain in post, Downing Street has said.

It follows confusion over whether they had both quit amid the chaos of the fracking vote, as reports suggest they had.

Chief whip ‘resignation'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 21:30 , Katy Clifton

As our political editor Andy Woodcock reports, eye-witnesses said chief whip Wendy Morton, who was undermined by the U-turn on treating the fracking motion as a vote of confidence, tonight declared her resignation in the voting lobby, as Ms Truss tried to persuade her to stay.

The lack of official confirmation of her departure this evening suggests the resignation may have been withdrawn, with No 10 saying there was “no update” on her position.

Read more about tonight’s chaotic scenes below:

Liz Truss government rocked by day of chaos

Liz Truss ‘needs to go now’ - Ian Blackford

Wednesday 19 October 2022 21:08 , Katy Clifton

Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader has said if Liz Truss had “an ounce of decency, or any self-respect” she would quit before she is forced out by her MPs.

Mr Blackford, who is MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: “Liz Truss needs to go – and she needs to go now. The utter chaos at the centre of the Tory government cannot continue any longer.

“It’s wrecking the economy and damaging people’s mortgages, pensions and incomes. If she had an ounce of decency, or any self-respect, the Prime Minister would resign before she is inevitably forced from office.

“And then there must be an election.”

Watch: Tory backbencher ‘livid’ with colleagues after Commons chaos

Wednesday 19 October 2022 20:55 , Katy Clifton

Rees-Mogg: ‘To characterise it as bullying is mistaken’

Wednesday 19 October 2022 20:45 , Katy Clifton

Jacob Rees-Mogg has dismissed reports that Tory MPs were bullied into entering the “no” lobby in the Commons to vote against the Labour motion on fracking.

“I think to characterise it as bullying is mistaken,” he told Sky News.

“I did hear one person shout and use an expletive as he marched in. He said everyone should go and vote and he said that loudly. But he didn’t say it to anyone individually. He said it to the assembled crowd.

“There were some people waiting outside the division lobby who weren’t sure whether it was a vote of no confidence or not and there was some discussion on the issue. It was a perfectly normal discussion.”

He said there had been “confusion” after a “junior official” from No 10 had relayed a message to the Government frontbench that it was no longer a confidence vote.

“Nobody else was aware of that. Most members though it was a vote of confidence,” he said.

Tory backbencher: ‘I’ve not seen anything like tonight’

Wednesday 19 October 2022 20:41 , Katy Clifton

Describing events in the House of Commons over the fracking vote, Conservative backbencher Sir Charles Walker told the BBC: “I’ve really not seen anything like tonight.

“What I understand is that we were on a confidence vote, which means if you voted against your government, you’d lose the whip because in essence, you were saying you had no confidence in the Government.

“Then at the despatch box, in the wind-up, the minister said it wasn’t a confidence vote, which created chaos in the division lobbies. There was then a sort of 20-minute delay between the vote happening and the result being announced, which by the way, wasn’t even close. The Government won it by nearly 100 votes. But I just think the whole thing is extraordinary. And somewhere in between this, the vote being called and the result being announced the chief whip resigned.

“But I just think the whole thing is extraordinary.”

He said he is leaving Parliament at the next general election voluntarily, adding: “Unless we get our act together and behave like grown-ups, I’m afraid many hundreds of my colleagues, perhaps 200, will be leaving at the behest of their electorate.”

Coffey denies manhandling MPs

Wednesday 19 October 2022 20:19 , Katy Clifton

Therese Coffey denied she “manhandled” Tory MPs to force them to support the government in the fracking vote, according to sources close to the deputy prime minister.

“Absolutely she was encouraging Con MPs into the government lobby but she didn’t manhandle anyone,” they told the PA news agency.

MPs told Jacob Rees-Mogg to ‘f*** off’ during fracking vote

Wednesday 19 October 2022 20:11 , Lamiat Sabin

More reports from MPs about what happened during tonight’s chaotic vote on fracking in the House of Commons.

Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg was told to “f*** off” by Tory MPs, some of which were allegedly physically forced to vote against Labour’s motion to reinstate a ban on fracking.

Fracking ‘furious’: Deputy chief whip ‘quits’ amid vote chaos

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:45 , Lamiat Sabin

Deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker has reportedly resigned.

A Tory MP said, according to tweets, that they overheard him saying: “I am f****** furious and I don’t give a f*** anymore” following a vote on fracking.

Chief whip Wendy Morton has also resigned, according to reports, over a shambolic voting process this evening.

MPs said they saw Tory members physically “dragged” and “bullied” into the ‘no’ lobby to vote against Labour’s proposals to ban fracking.

‘Crying’ Tory MP ‘manhandled’ in ‘no’ lobby in fracking vote

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:36 , Lamiat Sabin

Tory MPs have reportedly been “manhandled” during a vote on Labour’s proposals to ban fracking.

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said: “Just seen Tory whips manhandling a crying Tory MP into their lobby for fracking.

“You couldn’t make this toxic stuff up, nasty to see the Tories at work, if this is how they treat their MPs spare a thought for the country.”

Another Labour MP, Chris Bryant, tweeted that he saw “members being physically manhandled onto the lobby and bullied”.

On Sky News, he alleged that Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg may have been involved into physically forcing an MP into the ‘no’ lobby.

The Tory government succeeded in getting Labour’s proposal to ban the controversial practice of fracking voted down.

Some 326 MPs voted against banning fracking, while 230 MPs voted for it.

‘It’s over’ for Truss as ‘rumours’ government chief whip quit

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:31 , Lamiat Sabin

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire, raising a point of order, said there are “very strong rumours” that the government chief whip Wendy Morton has resigned.

If true, it is yet another blow in a short space of time for prime minister Liz Truss.

Veteran political journalist Andrew Neil said that Ms Morton resigning would be another sign that “it’s over” for Ms Truss.

Truss avoids major rebellion on fracking as Labour motion fails

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:26 , Lamiat Sabin

MPs have voted against Labour’s proposal to ban the controversial practice of fracking – in a vote seen as a test of Liz Truss’s government.

Some 230 MPs voted for banning fracking while 326 voted against the proposal.

The vote was brought to the Commons by the Labour Party during an opposition day debate and was seen as a vote of confidence in the government.

You can read the full breaking news story here:

Government avoids major rebellion on fracking as Labour motion fails

Grant Shapps avoids questions about Suella Braverman

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:18 , Lamiat Sabin

Home secretary Grant Shapps has refused to be drawn on the resignation of his predecessor Suella Braverman.

Outside the Home Office HQ, he told reporters: “There is a very important job to do. People expect their Government to ensure there is security for them. The Home Office is at the heart of that in so many different ways.

“It is a great office of state. I am obviously honoured to do that role. I am going to get on with that serious role right now.”

Who is Suella Braverman?

Wednesday 19 October 2022 19:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Joe Sommerlad has chronicled the rise and fall of Suella Braverman, from her beginnings as a barrister to becoming attorney general, and then home secretary – before quitting just over a month after she was appointed.

As well as her political career, she is also known for making a number of controversial remarks during her time in one of the great offices of state, including that it was her “dream” to see plane-loads of asylum seekers be sent to Rwanda.

All we know about Suella Braverman - ex Home Secretary who lasted 44 days in the job

Grant Shapps ‘honoured’ to be appointed home secretary

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:50 , Lamiat Sabin

Grant Shapps said he is looking forward to getting on with the job as home secretary “regardless of what’s happening otherwise in Westminster”.

Speaking outside the Home Office’s HQ on Marsham Street, he told reporters: “Obviously it has been a turbulent time for the government.

“But the most important thing is to make sure the people of this country know they’ve got security. That’s why it’s a great honour to be appointed as home secretary today.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role, providing the security the British people need regardless of what’s happening otherwise in Westminster. So I’m looking forward to getting on with the job.”

Liz Truss ‘on her way to palace to meet King Charles III'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:40 , Lamiat Sabin

Tory MP apologises for Tory government ‘soap drama’

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Bob Seely has apologised for the “frustrating” state of the Conservative Party.

The Tory MP for the Isle of Wight spoke to Tom Swarbrick on LBC Radio, and said: “I actually want to apologise, I really am getting fed up with this soap drama as much as your listeners are.

“ ... I’m frankly as bemused as pretty much everyone else is and I’m really unhappy with the situation.”

Truss’ letters to Kwarteng and Braverman compared

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:20 , Lamiat Sabin

Liz Truss has used far less emotive language in her letter to Suella Braverman compared to the one she sent to Kwasi Kwarteng, a comparison shows.

Ben Riley-Smith, the political editor of The Telegraph, pointed out that the prime minister’s letter to Mr Kwarteng – who she sacked as chancellor over their disastrous mini-Budget – is “full of praise”.

It also includes words such as “friend”, “deeply sorry”, and “deeply respect”.

Meanwhile, the letter to Ms Braverman – who resigned as home secretary today – is more concise, holds less emotion, and is “mainly a list of facts,” Mr Riley-Smith said.

Grant Shapps succeeds Suella Braverman as home secretary

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:07 , Lamiat Sabin

Grant Shapps is the new home secretary, Downing Street has confirmed.

The former transport secretary’s appointment comes after Suella Braverman’s resignation.

Tory government ‘falling apart at seams’ just six weeks in

Wednesday 19 October 2022 18:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Suella Braverman’s counterpart said that her resignation shows that the Tory government is “falling apart at the seams”.

Her quitting comes less than a week after Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked by Liz Truss and replaced by Jeremy Hunt.

The turmoil comes just over a month after Ms Truss was appointed prime minister.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “To appoint and then sack both your home secretary and chancellor within 6 weeks is utter chaos. This is no way to run a government.

“Suella Braverman has admitted breaching security procedures which raises serious questions. There are also reports of major disputes about policy and we have had weeks of disagreements.

“We need an urgent statement from the Prime Minister. Home affairs, security and public safety are too important for this kind of chaos.

“The problems go beyond one home secretary ... The public doesn’t need changes at the top of the Tory party, it needs a Labour government.”

Corbyn: ‘Fulfil dreams of refugees, not dying dreams of Suella’

Wednesday 19 October 2022 17:40 , Lamiat Sabin

Jeremy Corbyn has called on Britain to “actualise the living dreams of refugees” rather than the “dying dreams of Suella Braverman”.

His tweet comes after Ms Braverman – who said her “dream” was to see planeloads of asylum seekers be sent to Rwanda while their applications are processed – quit as home secretary.

The former Labour leader, who is now an independent MP for Islington North, tweeted: “Two weeks ago, Suella Braverman told us her dream was to witness a flight sending refugees to Rwanda. Thankfully, she has now resigned.

“For the sake of humanity, we must ensure it’s the living dreams of refugees, not the dying dreams of Suella Braverman, that are actualised.”

Dominic Cummings: Braverman ‘clearly fired’ by Truss or Hunt

Wednesday 19 October 2022 17:28 , Lamiat Sabin

Dominic Cummings said the reason Suella Braverman gave for resigning as home secretary is “laughable” and that she was “clearly fired”.

The former chief adviser to former PM Boris Johnson tweeted his reaction to her quitting.

Ms Braverman had written to PM Liz Truss explaining that she had sent a draft written ministerial statement via her personal email account to another MP. She said, for this reason, it’s “right for [her] to go”.

But Mr Cummings, who has regularly voiced his criticism of the Tories since he had been forced to resign over violating Covid rules, said official and sensitive government documents are circulated via non-government email accounts and WhatsApp on a daily basis.

He added that being sacked or resigning over that is “laughable”, and said he believes she was “clearly fired” by Ms Truss or newly-appointed chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Braverman doubts Home Office’s ability to reduce migration

Wednesday 19 October 2022 17:19 , Lamiat Sabin

Suella Braverman made some criticisms of the government’s ability to achieve its manifesto pledges at the same time she quit as home secretary.

She wrote in her open letter to Liz Truss that “pretending we haven’t made mistakes” and having “broken key pledges” is “not serious politics”.

Ms Braverman, who was appointed to the role on 6 September, said she is concerned about the government’s ability to reduce the number of migrants.

She wrote: “Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings.”

Suella Braverman shares resignation letter she sent to PM

Wednesday 19 October 2022 16:57 , Lamiat Sabin

Suella Braverman has quit as home secretary, her resignation letter to the prime minister confirms.

She posted a copy of her letter to Liz Truss, which states that she resigned over a “mistake” she made in sending an official document from her personal account.

In the letter, she says: “Earlier today, I sent an official document from my personal email to a trusted parliamentary colleague as part of policy engagement, and with the aim of garnering support for government policy on migration.

“This constitutes a technical infringement of the rules. As you know the document was a draft written ministerial statement about migration, due for publication imminently. Much of it had already been briefed MPs.

“Nevertheless it is right for me to go.”

‘Braverman no longer home secretary’ – Home Office source

Wednesday 19 October 2022 16:56 , Lamiat Sabin

A Home Office source confirmed that Suella Braverman is no longer the home secretary.

Her departure from the role comes just weeks after she was first appointed to replace Priti Patel on 6 September.

Grant Shapps, former transport secretary, could be in line to succeed Ms Braverman, The Guardian, which first reported her departure, said.

Braverman out as Home Secretary

Wednesday 19 October 2022 16:30 , Lucy Skoulding

It is understood that Suella Braverman has departed as the UK Home Secretary.

Downing Street has not denied the Guardian’s report that Braverman has departed as Home Secretary.

No 10 has denied Braverman has been sacked but it has not shared further information yet on the nature of her departure.

It comes after Liz Truss cleared her diary and cancelled a planned visit as she attempts to save her position.

There is speculation that Grant Shapps, former transport secretary, will replace Braverman.

Liz Truss’s history of U-turns as PM flip-flops on pensions triple lock

Wednesday 19 October 2022 16:04 , Matt Mathers

PM is no stranger to about-turns and, less than two months into her premiership, they just keep coming, write Jon Stone and Joe Sommerlad.

Read the full report here:

Liz Truss’s history of U-turns as PM flip-flops on pensions triple lock

Will Jeremy Hunt put the environment at the core of his economic policy?

Wednesday 19 October 2022 15:42 , Matt Mathers

The UK’s fourth chancellor in four months differs from his three predecessors in that he is a so-called "green Tory", by dint of his membership of the Conservative Environment Network.

This group of backbench MPs supports government action to reduce emissions, invest in the green economy and reach the 2050 net zero target.

As a serving minister, Mr Hunt is no longer eligible to be part of the group’s caucus, but is now listed on the CEN website as an alumnus.

Our enviornment correspondent Harry Cockburn reports:

‘Green Tory’ Jeremy Hunt’s climate credentials as Liz Truss pushes for more fracking

The Conservatives are waging a war on nature – it must stop

Wednesday 19 October 2022 15:20 , Matt Mathers

I hope the new chancellor will send an urgent note to Jacob Rees-Mogg, asking him to scrap his proposed Retained EU Law Bill – or, at the very least, to kick it into the long grass, writes Stanley Johnson.

Read Stanley’s full piece here:

Liz Truss aides ‘pretended her relatives had died’ to get her out of going on TV

Treasury encouraging soft stance on China, Sir Iain Duncan Smith says

Wednesday 19 October 2022 15:05 , Matt Mathers

Sir Iain Duncan Smith has hit out at the Treasury for encouraging successive governments to take a soft stance on China.

The former Tory leader claimed the Treasury was "very resistant to any kind of change", but said the "message is getting home to the government".

"We have to push them harder," he added.

"This is a wake-up call for them that we have got to go further and harder."

Home Office admits it is illegally housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels

Wednesday 19 October 2022 15:45 , Matt Mathers

The Home Office has admitted that housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is illegal but has no concrete plans to end the practice, a watchdog has revealed.

Official documents show that the government identified over a year ago that the policy amounted to the creation of unregulated children’s homes, which ministers banned in February 2021.

Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:

Home Office admits illegally housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels

Truss aides ‘pretended her relatives had died’ to excuse her from TV

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:51 , Jane Dalton

Liz Truss’s aides would concoct stories about family members dying to get the then-minister out of television appearances, it has been claimed.

A former political journalist who worked for the new prime minister when she was justice secretary said: “She didn’t like the media, so we used to spend quite a lot of time making up excuses and killing off minor members of her family so she didn’t have to go on Question Time.”

Jon Stone reports:

Liz Truss aides ‘pretended her relatives had died’ to get her out of going on TV

Tories will be out of power for 100 years, predicts ex-Lib Dem leader

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:44 , Jane Dalton

The prime minister is ensuring that the Conservatives will be out of power for a century, according to Tim Farron, former leader of the Lib Dems, of which Ms Truss was once a member.

PM pulls out of planned visit and questions

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:32 , Jane Dalton

Liz Truss has pulled out of a scheduled visit this afternoon – two hours after telling MPs: “I’m a fighter not a quitter.”

No 10 has not given a reason for the last-minute cancellation of the trip to an electronics manufacturer specialising in defence and aerospace technology.

She had been expected to take questions from broadcasters during the visit.

Vice-chair of 1922 group lodges letter of no confidence in PM

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:27 , Matt Mathers

A Conservative MP has revealed he has lodged a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister with chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs Sir Graham Brady.

William Wragg, who is vice-chairman of the group, said he would like to vote with Labour on the fracking motion, but he would not because then his letter would not be counted.

He told MPs: “If I vote as I would wish, then I would lose the whip. I would no longer be vice-chair of the 1922 committee.

“I would no longer maintain a position as a chair of one of the select committees of the House.

“And indeed, because of that, my letter lodged with my honourable friend, the member for Altrincham and Sale West, would fall, and I wish to maintain that letter with my honourable friend.”

Full report:

‘Personally ashamed’ Tory MP submits letter of no confidence in Liz Truss

Great British Railways plan ‘delayed’ as Liz Truss pulls transport bill

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:20 , Matt Mathers

The government’s plan to create a new body to run Britain’s railways has been delayed, the transport secretary has announced.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan said a planned transport bill that would legislate to set up Great British Railways (GBR) would not go ahead in this parliamentary session.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:

Great British Railways plan ‘delayed’ as Liz Truss pulls transport bill

Liz Truss is now Labour’s greatest asset. She must be protected at all costs

Wednesday 19 October 2022 14:00 , Matt Mathers

If she fouls up at Prime Minister’s Questions, then she’s out; if not, then she just staggers on, limping on as a caretaker towards her inevitable demise, writes Sean O’Grady.

Read Sean’s full piece here:

Truss is Labour’s greatest asset. She must be protected at all costs | Sean O’Grady

Liz Truss contradicts chancellor by announcing pensions triple lock will stay

Wednesday 19 October 2022 13:17 , Matt Mathers

Liz Truss has contradicted her new chancellor Jeremy Hunt and announced pensions will rise in line with soaring inflation – after suggestions the pledge would be dumped.

“I have been clear that we are protecting the triple lock on pensions,” the beleaguered prime minister told MPs during PMQs.

Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick reports:

Liz Truss contradicts Chancellor by announcing pensions triple lock will stay

‘Fighter not a quitter'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:49 , Matt Mathers

Truss says she is a “fighter not a quitter” and that she has acted in the “national interest” to ensure economic stability.

She repeats her argument about delivering on energy bills and NI.

She says she will deliver on disrupting the unions and that Starmer has “no plan” and has “no alternative”.

‘Fantasy economics'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:46 , Matt Mathers

Starmer says the only mandate Truss has ever had is from her MPs.

“It was a mandate built on fantasy economics,” he adds. “And it ended in disaster.”

The country has got nothing to show for it, he adds. Her “economic credibility is gone”.

“Why is she still here?” Starmer asks, pointing out that Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked.

‘He refuses to do anything'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:43 , Matt Mathers

Truss points out that Starmer has not rejected any of the U-turns made by Hunt in recent days.

She claims Starmer is “refusing to condemn” the strikes.

“We’re on the side of working people, we’re going to legislate to keep our railways open...[he refuses to do anything],” she adds.

‘They put her there'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:39 , Matt Mathers

Starmer hits back saying, “she’s asking questions because we’re a government in waiting and they’re an opposition in waiting”.

He said there was no getting away from a situation where “millions” are facing rising mortgage costs.

She’s admitted its her fault, he adds.

“They put her there,” Starmer says gesturing to Conservative MPs behind Ms Truss. “They’re keeping her there...why on earth would anyone trust the Tories on the economy ever again?”

‘We’re being honest'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:32 , Matt Mathers

Truss sidesteps question, saying there needs to be “some reflection of the economy reality” from Labour.

She says the fact is that interest rates “are rising across the world” and that the economic conditions have “worsened”.

“We are being honest,” she adds. “We’re levelling with the public”.

She asks Starmer what he is going to do about train workers going on strike?

‘They crashed the economy'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:29 , Matt Mathers

Starmer says the spending cuts are on the table “for one reason only - because they crashed the economy”.

He says working people are going to have to pay “£500 more in mortgage costs” per month.

“What’s the prime minister’s response, to say she’s sorry?”

‘Spending will go up next year'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:27 , Matt Mathers

Starmer pointed out that Truss had promised no spending cuts last week, before the chancellor reversed this.

“What’s the point of a prime minister whose promises don’t even last a week?” he asks.

Truss says that spending will go up next year and the year after.

She says the Labour Party has pledged “hundreds of billions of spending pledges none of which they’ve retracted.”

PM says that the opposition needs to rethink its plans.

‘I had to adjust our policies'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:14 , Matt Mathers

Truss replies by saying her policy is to protect the most vulnerable for two years.

“I had to take the decision, because of the economic situation, to adjust our policies,” she says.

Truss adds that she is prepared to take “tough decisions”.

‘How can she be held to account?'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:12 , Matt Mathers

Starmer hits back by saying that Truss repeatedly criticised Labour’s six-month plan.

Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, has said the government will review her two year propsal in April.

Starmer add, “how can she be held to account when she’s not in charge?”

Truss - I’ve delivered on energy bills

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:10 , Matt Mathers

Truss responds by saying that, since she entered office, she has delivered the energy price guarantee.

She says she has reversed the NI increase and has taken steps to “crack down on the unions”.

She says it is a better record of action than Starmer in his two and a half years in the job.

‘Release date or title?'

Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:08 , Matt Mathers

Keir Starmer begins his questions with a joke about a booking coming out onTruss’s time in office.

He says it will be out by Christmas and asks, is that the “release date or the title?”

Starmer and Truss to face off at PMQs

Wednesday 19 October 2022 11:54 , Matt Mathers

Keir Starmer and Liz Truss will face off at PMQs in about 5 minutes.

Stay tuned for updates as the prime minister fights for her political life.

She is coming under fresh pressure today after failing to rule out the triple lock on pensions.

Tory MPs on three-line whip for fracking vote

Wednesday 19 October 2022 11:29 , Matt Mathers

Tory MPs have been issued with a three-line whip over Labour’s fracking motion this afternoon, and warned it is being seen as a “confidence motion in the government".

Deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker wrote to Conservatives telling them it is a "100 per cent hard 3 line whip!"

"We cannot, under any circumstances, let the Labour Party take control of the order paper and put through their own legislation and whatever other bits of legislation they desire," he said.

"We are voting NO and I reiterate, this is a hard 3 line whip with all slips withdrawn."

The government amendment is also a three-line whip, he said, adding: "I know this is difficult for some colleagues, but we simply cannot allow this."

Truss in ‘last chance saloon', Tory MP says

Wednesday 19 October 2022 11:10 , Matt Mathers

Liz Truss is in the “last chance saloon” and will probably have to stand down “quite soon”, a Tory MP has said.

Steve Double, who represents Newquay, made the comments in an interview with Times Radio earlier, becoming the sixth Conservative MP to publicly call for the prime minister to quit.

"I think her position is becoming increasingly untenable,” he said.

"I think it’s becoming abundantly clear when you look at the loss of confidence in her as Prime Minister from the general public, and increasingly I think the loss of confidence in her from the parliamentary party, that we are going to get to the point where she really does have to consider her position and for the good of the country, step aside, and I think we will probably come to that place quite soon."

No confidence letter threshold reached - reports

Wednesday 19 October 2022 11:01 , Matt Mathers

The number of no confidence letters needed to trigger a Conservative Party leadership has been reached, according to reports.

Dan Hodges, the Daily Mail columinst, said that Sir Graham Brady - chair of the 1922 Committee which organises contests - will not call one yet.

He will wait until more than half the parliamentary party hands in letters before acting.

Cap on care costs likely to be delayed as Jeremy Hunt demands ‘eye-watering’ cuts

Wednesday 19 October 2022 11:00 , Matt Mathers

A long-promised cap on social care costs is likely to be delayed again, as the new chancellor searches for “eye-watering” emergency cuts.

Jeremy Hunt is believed to be preparing to put back by at least one year Boris Johnson’s promise of an £86,000 ceiling on bills for conditions such as dementia – due to start in October next year.

Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick reports:

Cap on care costs set to be delayed as Jeremy Hunt demands ‘eye-watering’ cuts

Pensioners being worried ‘unnecessarily over triple lock’ - minister

Wednesday 19 October 2022 10:52 , Matt Mathers

Pensioners are being worried “unnecessarily” about the triple lock, a minister has claimed.

Downing Street last night would not commit to keeping the triple lock - a Conservative Party promise to raise the state pension in life with inflation or wages - whichever is higher.

It came after Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, said “nothing” was off the table when it came to spending cuts as he seeks to repair the damage done by the PM’s mini-Budget.

But Brendan Clarke-Smith, a Cabinet Office minister, said the issue was being “overblown”.

Listen below:

More than half of voters think Truss should quit, poll finds

Wednesday 19 October 2022 10:45 , Zoe Tidman

More than half of voters think Liz Truss should resign as prime minister, according to a new poll:

SNP calls for benefits and pensions to rise with inflation

Wednesday 19 October 2022 10:30 , Zoe Tidman

SNP Treasury spokeswoman Alison Thewliss has called on Prime Minister Liz Truss to commit to increase pensions and benefits in line with inflation.

“The fault of this crisis lies squarely with No 10. Liz Truss’s premiership has been an unmitigated disaster - driving the UK economy to the brink of a recession and leaving the housing market and pensions on the verge of crashing,” she said.

“It’s time for the Prime Minister to pledge her commitment to securing the triple lock on pensions, and to increase benefits in line with inflation rather than wages.”

PA

‘They started the fire,’ Nandy says

Wednesday 19 October 2022 10:15 , Zoe Tidman

Here is how Labour’s Lisa Nandy responded to these comments.

“They’ve crashed the economy. They’ve sent mortgage payments and rent increases through the roof. We’re still seeing that huge volatility coming through, interest rates expected to rise again,” she told Sky News.

“People just can’t take much more of this. I don’t get any sense, having spent the last couple of days in Parliament around Tory MPs questioning the Government, that there is any agreement amongst this divided party about where to go next.

“They started the fire, they sure aren’t the people who are going to go and put it out.”

What can we expect from PMQs?

Wednesday 19 October 2022 10:09 , Zoe Tidman

Liz Truss faces a potentially humiliating clash with Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs shortly.

She will square off against the Labour leader for the first time since her new chancellor Jeremy Hunt ripped up her plan for tax cuts and increased public borrowing in a bid to reassure markets in the wake of the mini-budget turmoil.

Catch-up before PMQs starts here:

Liz Truss faces pivotal PMQs as she fights to save premiership

‘Mistakes happen,’ minister says

Wednesday 19 October 2022 09:59 , Zoe Tidman

James Cleverly said Liz Truss is “still very much committed” to growing the economy.

But he said the PM had admitted to having “made mistakes” and “sought to address those”.

He told Sky News: “The simple truth in life, in politics, in business, in life, is that mistakes happen. They do happen. What you’ve got to do is recognise when they’ve happened and have humility to make changes when you see things didn’t go right.”

Watch here:

PA

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