Suella Braverman - live: Home secretary resigns and chief whip ‘quits’ after fracking vote

Grant Shapps has replaced Suella Braverman after she quit as home secretary and criticised the government as “not serious”.

Ms Braverman sent Liz Truss an open letter, in which she claims she resigned over a “mistake” she made in sending an official document from her personal email account.

But, she mainly voiced concern over the government’s conduct, writing that “pretending we haven’t made mistakes” and having “broken key pledges” is “not serious politics”.

It’s another blow to Ms Truss, who’s battling to hold onto her job amid a mounting campaign among Tory MPs and members to get rid of her.

Chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker have reportedly resigned. It emerged as a proposal brought by Labour to reinstate a ban on fracking was voted against by 326 MPs – with 230 MPs voting for it.

A number of MPs reported that Tory MPs – one who was “crying” – had been “manhandled” and “bullied” into voting ‘no’. The shambles led to Mr Whittaker reportedly saying that he’s “f****** furious and I don’t give a f*** anymore.”

Key points

• Suella Braverman shares resignation letter she sent to Liz Truss

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

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

• Truss avoids major rebellion on fracking as Labour motion fails

• Tory MP apologises for Tory government ‘soap drama’

Coffey denies manhandling MPs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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'

18:40 , Lamiat Sabin

Tory MP apologises for Tory government ‘soap drama’

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

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

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?'

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

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?'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

The Independent calls for general election

09:47 , Zoe Tidman

The Independent has another take on this.

“Can Britain go on like this?” its latest editorial says. “Can Britain, in other words, continue to be governed by an increasingly chaotic administration that is never far from collapse, and lacks democratic support?”

Read The Independent’s call for a general election here:

Editorial: Britain cannot go on like this. We call for an election – now

Minister ‘unconvinced’ general election is answer

09:20 , Zoe Tidman

James Cleverly said he is “unconvinced” any of the root causes of the challenges faced by the country will be remedied by a general election.

“If we see the things which are creating the challenges that we’re all facing, both domestically and internationally, I’m unconvinced that any of those things would be made better by a general election at the moment,” the foreign secretary told LBC.

“What the British people demand of us, and they are right to demand this, is that we focus on their priorities.

“Taking two months off for a general election campaign... I don’t think would be helping the people we are here to help, and that’s the British people.”

PA

James Cleverly ‘gets why people are frustrated’ with Liz Truss

09:08 , Zoe Tidman

James Cleverly said he understands why people are “frustrated“ with Liz Truss but warned Tory colleagues against “defenestrating” another prime minister.

“The people who are criticising the prime minister, and I get why people are frustrated, you know, we look at poll numbers - of course it’s disconcerting if you’re a member of the government,” he told Sky News.

“But my contention is the best way of addressing those poll numbers is to demonstrate to the British people that we are focused on their priorities, that we’re delivering on their behalf. And if we do that, those numbers will head in the right direction instead of the wrong direction.”

The foreign secretary said he was “far from convinced” that another leadership campaign and “defenestrating another prime minister” would send the message the party was thinking about the public rather than itself and help the economy.

Save The Children calls for benefits to rise with inflation

09:00 , Zoe Tidman

A children’s charity says it is “deeply concerned” for low-income families amid soaring prices.

It has called for benefits to rise with inflation:

‘Economic crisis of their own making'

08:45 , Zoe Tidman

The shadow chancellor says the inflation figures will bring “more anxiety to families worried about the Tories lack of grip on an economic crisis of their own making”.

Rachel Reeves said: “It’s clear that the damage has been done. This is a Tory crisis, made in Downing Street and paid for by working people.“

Lib Dems calls for benefits and pensions to rise with 10.1 per cent inflation

08:35 , Zoe Tidman

On the same note, the Liberal Democrats has called on Liz Truss to confirm that pensions and benefits will increase in line with the 10.1% inflation figure.

“In the midst of this cost-of-living catastrophe, pensioners and those relying on benefits cannot be undercut and left to struggle further,” Sarah Olney, its Treasury spokesperson, said.

“Liz Truss must act today to reassure the public and confirm in parliament that pensions and benefits will rise to match inflation.”

Minister refuses to be drawn in on inflation and benefits

08:17 , Zoe Tidman

The foreign secretary has refused to be drawn into whether benefits and pensions will increase with inflation, which has risen back to 10 per cent.

Chancellor doesn’t say whether benefits and pensions will increase with soaring inflation

07:39 , Zoe Tidman

Jeremy Hunt said the government would prioritise help for the vulnerable after the rate of Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 10.1 per cent last month up from 9.9 per cent the month before.

The figure is usually used as the benchmark to raise benefits and the state pension but the government has refused to confirm that payments will keep pace with rising prices.

“I understand that families across the country are struggling with rising prices and higher energy bills,” the chancellor said.

“This government will prioritise help for the most vulnerable while delivering wider economic stability and driving long-term growth that will help everyone.

“We have acted decisively to protect households and businesses from significant rises in their energy bills this winter, with the Government’s energy price guarantee holding down peak inflation.”

How might a general election happen?

07:20 , Stuti Mishra

Liz Truss has said that there will be no election until 2024, but if she is replaced, her successor might want to call an election before then, writes John Rentoul.

Read more:

How might a general election happen? | John Rentoul

Jeremy Hunt meets 1922 Committee chair amid calls to oust Truss

07:00 , Stuti Mishra

Jeremy Hunt has met Sir Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, as he prepares to face the parliamentary party after overhauling Liz Truss’s economic plan.

Treasury sources confirmed the meeting on Tuesday night, claiming it was a routine briefing ahead of the new chancellor’s 1922 appearance on Wednesday.

Liam James has the latest here:

Jeremy Hunt meets 1922 Committee chair as Tory MPs plot to oust Truss

Inflation back at 40-year high at 10.1 per cecnt

07:29 , Zoe Tidman

My colleague Holly Bancroft has the latest on the inflation figures published by the ONS this morning:

UK inflation rises back to 40-year high of 10.1% as food prices soar

Not the right time to ‘abandon’ triple lock, Tory MP warns

06:37 , Stuti Mishra

Tory MPs are speaking out against Liz Truss’s latest U-turn abandoning her commitment to increase state pensions in line with inflation, with a former work and pensions secretary among those denouncing the move.

Stephen Crabb said it wasn’t “the time to consider abandoning the triple lock, especially after such clear promises were made following the last temporary pause [in 2021]”.

Earlier, Downing Street revealed that Ms Truss was no longer committed to increasing state pensions in line with inflation as her new chancellor seeks to cut government spending in a departure from the prime minister’s failed growth strategy.

Video: What do Liz Truss's constituents think of premiership?

05:50 , Stuti Mishra

People in Liz Truss’s constituency of South West Norfolk have given damning reviews of their MP’s time as prime minister so far.

After just six weeks in office, Ms Truss’s premiership has been turbulent, with the mini-Budget sending the pound tumbling and a number of Conservative MPs publicly calling for her resignation.

Gordon McInnes, 69, said Ms Truss had “lost the plot.”

“We’re going to suffer for some of the stupid U-turns that have been put upon us now,” the retired school careers adviser said.

Watch here:

Election Now: The Independent launches petition calling for a general election

05:30 , Stuti Mishra

The Independent has launched a petition calling for a general election to be held in the UK following the turmoil caused by recent political events.

Liz Truss had no mandate for her abrupt change of direction when she became prime minister – except from 81,000 Conservative Party members, a tiny and unrepresentative section of the population. Nor does she have any authority for her U-turns, changing the government’s fundamental stance on taxes and public spending twice in a matter of weeks.

The response of many Conservative MPs, even of many who supported her, is to devise ways in which a third prime minister could take office since the last election, without reference either to Conservative members or to the general electorate. This would be to stretch the democratic process too far.

Follow this link to sign the petition.

Poll suggests Tory members have lost faith in Truss

05:13 , Stuti Mishra

Liz Truss has survived a meeting of the cabinet without any ministers calling for her to quit, but Tory members and voters appear to be turning on her.

A snap poll of party members released yesterday saw more than half respond that she should resign and 83 per cent say she was doing a bad job.

Downing Street insisted the cabinet fully supported the prime minister and stressed that Ms Truss was focused on the challenges facing the country rather than party infighting.

Read more:

Liz Truss battles on but poll suggests Tory members have lost faith

Truss set to face PMQs after economic U-turns

04:46 , Stuti Mishra

Liz Truss faces a humiliating clash with Sir Keir Starmer today, having been forced to junk her entire economic strategy and with her leadership in peril.

She will square off against the Labour leader in Prime Minister’s Questions 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.

It could come amid more gloomy economic news, with economists predicting that Office for National Statistics data will reveal inflation returned to double-figures in September.

The prime minister faces disquiet from Tory MPs over plans for public spending cuts across all departments, after Mr Hunt warned of decisions of “eye-watering difficulty” to plug the government’s multibillion-pound financial black hole.

An admission from Downing Street that Ms Truss could ditch the key manifesto commitment to increase state pensions in line with inflation sparked a swift backlash.

Her official spokesperson said she is “not making any commitments on individual policy areas” ahead of the chancellor’s fiscal plan on 31 October.

Graham Brady: Who is chair of influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers?

04:15 , Liam James

Whenever a Tory leader lets slip their control of the party, a certain figure emerges from the darkest reaches of Westminster with a renewed purpose.

Sir Graham Brady does not come to save his ailing colleague. His return to prominence in fact suggests their time is short.

In Sir Graham, the highest representative of party backbenchers, Conservative MPs have a means of calling for their leader to be chucked out.

Letters demanding a vote of confidence are handed to the head of the 1922 Committee in private – though some MPs will tell the world of their submissions – and if he receives them from 15 per cent of the parliamentary party, Sir Graham will tell the Tory leader it is time for their fate to be decided by their MPs.

A look at the background of this unique figure in British politics:

Graham Brady: Who is chair of influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers?

Liz Truss turns to former Johnson adviser as she fights to shore up tottering premiership

03:15 , Liam James

Liz Truss has recruited a key member of Boris Johnson’s inner circle in a bid to shore up her tottering premiership following the collapse of her flagship economic policies.

Addressing MPs on the Brexiteer right of the Conservative Party on Tuesday evening, Ms Truss was accompanied by the former PM’s deputy chief of staff, combative election strategist David Canzini, who aides confirmed had started working with her earlier that day.

The meeting with the European Research Group – at which Ms Truss said it had been “painful” to give up the tax-cutting policies that had been included in Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget – came on the eve of Wednesday’s crucial session of Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons, at which Ms Truss hopes to shake off the impression that she is a passenger in a government now led by chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

But one Tory MP told The Independent that no amount of improvement on her previously wooden PMQs performances can save her now.

“It’s irrecoverable,” said the backbencher. “She’s toast; it’s just a matter of when the toaster pops. No-one expects her to be great at PMQs; if she’s good it might buy her a bit of time, but if she has a really bad time, that could be the end of her. If I was Keir Starmer, I’d go easy on her.”

Liz Truss turns to former Johnson adviser as she fights to shore up her premiership

Welsh secretary warns against ousting Truss

02:07 , Liam James

Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland warned Tory MPs considering ousting Liz Truss as prime minister to “be careful what you wish for”.

The Cabinet minister told BBC Newsnight: “The more the Conservative Party change leaders, the stronger the case for a general election becomes.

“Now the Labour Party want the Conservatives to chop and change another leader because they think that their best opportunity is an early election.

“I say to my colleagues, be careful what you wish for. An early election serves nobody any good, not least the Conservative Party and certainly not the country.”

Britain is going backwards with these people in charge | Comment

01:02 , Liam James

Alastair Campbell joins The Independent’s call for an election.

He writes: Four prime ministers in six years. Four chancellors of the Exchequer in as many months. Even Greece, mid-meltdown, couldn’t get close to that.

The people who gave us this disaster are not the people to get us out of it. The idea that they should be able to install a fifth prime minister without reference to the general public is a democratic obscenity.

Read more from Alastair Campbell here:

Britain is going backwards with these people in charge | Alastair Campbell

Jacob Rees-Mogg facing legal challenge over fracking plans | Exclusive

Wednesday 19 October 2022 00:07 , Liam James

Jacob Rees-Mogg is facing legal action over his decision to lift the moratorium on fracking in England (Andrew Woodcock writes).

Environmental and community groups have sent a legal letter, seen by The Independent, to notify the business secretary of their intention to seek judicial review of his decision, on the grounds that it was “unlawful” to reverse the 2019 ban on the controversial gas extraction method without fresh scientific evidence to prove it is safe.

The move by Friends of the Earth, Talk Fracking and Preston New Road Action Group comes as MPs vote on a Labour bid to ban fracking “once and for all” through a parliamentary vote.

Jacob Rees-Mogg facing legal challenge over fracking plans

Former DWP secretary warns over pension threat

Tuesday 18 October 2022 23:18 , Liam James

A former work and pensions secretary has added his voice to growing Tory opposition against Liz Truss’s potential ditching of her commitment to increase state pensions in line with inflation.

Stephen Crabb told The Telegraph: “This is not the time to consider abandoning the triple lock, especially after such clear promises were made following the last temporary pause.

“Maintaining the value of the state pension during the cost-of-living crisis is essential.”

Downing Street today indicated that ministers may drop the triple-lock on state pensions, which binds the government to raise payments in line with the highest of 2.5 per cent, inflation or wages.

Lost the plot': Liz Truss's constituents give damning verdict on premiership so far

Tuesday 18 October 2022 22:29 , Liam James

People in Liz Truss’s constituency of South West Norfolk have given damning reviews of their MP’s time as prime minister so far.

After just six weeks in office, Ms Truss’s premiership has been turbulent, with the mini-Budget sending the pound tumbling and a number of Conservative MPs publicly calling for her resignation.

Here’s what the locals think of their representative:

Britain cannot go on like this. We call for an election – now

Tuesday 18 October 2022 22:08 , Liam James

It’s time for the people to have their say.

Here is why The Independent is calling for a general election:

Editorial: Britain cannot go on like this. We call for an election – now

Jeremy Hunt meets 1922 committee head

Tuesday 18 October 2022 21:25 , Liam James

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, today.

Treasury sources confirmed the meeting, saying it was a briefing ahead of Mr Hunt’s 1922 appearance on Wednesday.

It comes after Sir Graham met Liz Truss on Monday, an encounter No 10 said was “pre-planned” and during which her lack of support from Conservative MPs likely came up.

More than 100 MPs are reportedly ready to submit letters of no-confidence to Sir Graham in a bid to oust the PM.

What is 55 Tufton Street? The house that ‘crashed’ the UK economy

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:58 , Liam James

The political activist group Led by Donkeys has gone viral with a new video in which three of its members scale a ladder to place a mock blue plaque on the exterior of 55 Tufton Street in Westminster, central London, a Georgian townhouse serving as home to a number of right-wing think-tanks popular with Liz Truss (Joe Sommerlad writes).

“The UK economy was crashed here,” the commemorative sign reads, giving the date as 23 September 2022, the day on which Ms Truss’s now-ex chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his disastrous, uncosted “mini-Budget”, which proposed reckless tax cuts and heavy borrowing at a time of high inflation.

Mr Kwarteng’s fiscal programme – undeniably radical but deeply misguided, as it turned out – is understood to have been developed with the prime minister, a friend and neighbour from the so-called “Greenwich set”, but only served to spook global financial markets, forcing Ms Truss into a series of embarrassing policy U-turns and the Bank of England to buy up huge amounts of government debt to prop up pension funds.

What is 55 Tufton Street? The house that ‘crashed’ the UK economy

Tory MP says Liz Truss ‘experiment’ failed

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:39 , Liam James

Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood said Liz Truss conducted an “experiment” with the economy that failed.

But he said there was a “calmer Westminster” on Tuesday compared to the past few days and weeks, as “we have got back to understanding what the Conservatives usually do well”.

The defence committee chair, who recently had the Tory whip restored after being suspended for missing a confidence vote in Boris Johnson’s government, told Channel 4 News: “There’s no doubt about it, it’s been an experiment we’ve conducted with the economy and it’s not gone well. And there’s a recognition that we now need to reboot, we need to reset, we need to regroup.”

He added: “The mechanics in which we chose our leader, I think, is the core problem that [meant] we ended up where we are today.

“If you only ask our membership which direction they want to go, you’re going to get particular answers. And what was clear is that growth productivity has been a problem in the UK going back to 2008.

“Liz Truss presented a package of measures which clearly were too radical, they didn’t include an understanding of the international headwinds.”

MPs back buffer zones for abortion clinics

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:20 , Liam James

MPs have supported proposals to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics and hospitals in England and Wales.

The House of Commons voted 297 to 110, majority 187, in favour of an amendment to the Public Order Bill in a bid to offer greater protection to women by preventing protesters from gathering.

The move, pushed by a cross-party group of MPs, would introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics and hospitals where it would be an offence to interfere, intimidate or harass women accessing or people providing abortion services.

Those convicted could face up to six months in jail for a first offence or two years for further offences.

A buffer zone would apply to an area which is within 150 metres from any part of an abortion clinic or access point to any building or site that contains an abortion clinic. MPs were given a free vote on the matter.

PA

Truss brings Boris Johnson aide back into fold

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:01 , Liam James

Liz Truss has rehired former Boris Johnson aide David Canzini.

The prime minister’s deputy press secretary said Mr Canzini, a Tory party veteran and ardent Brexiteer, had attended her meeting with Brexit-supporting Tory MPs from the European Research Group.

The official told reporters that “he’s helping the prime minister” as part of her political team, without specifying his job title.

Mr Canzini maintained a low-profile as a strategist for Mr Johnson. He is a close ally of Sir Lynton Crosby, the Australian electoral strategist who many credit with Mr Johnson’s political success.

Truss stands by defence spending rise

Tuesday 18 October 2022 19:42 , Liam James

Liz Truss made an “unequivocal commitment” to increasing defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 at a meeting with the European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteer Tory MPs.

ERG chair, former minister Mark Francois, told reporters after the gathering: “We were delighted to hear her make an unequivocal commitment to spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by the end of the decade.

“She was asked very specifically about that. She was very clear that that commitment remained.

“So we’ve had a very positive meeting”.

Doubt hung over the commitment after new chancellor Jeremy Hunt said cuts were needed in all government departments.

End of Liz Truss a matter of when not if, says Michael Gove

Tuesday 18 October 2022 19:16 , Liam James

Michael Gove said it is a matter of when not if Liz Truss leaves office, warning Britain would be in economic “hell” for some time longer.

The former levelling up secretary said “we are going through hell” and “after hell comes purgatory and paradise”, in comments at a private event reported by The Times.

“Purgatory is going to be a tough economic medicine applied in this country and elsewhere. For how long I don’t know. But until and unless the interest rate increases and other measures required in order to kill and reduce inflation are in place, then we won’t get out of this mess,” he said.

Asked whether it was “no longer a question of whether Liz Truss goes, but when she goes,” Mr Gove agreed that was “absolutely right”.

He added: “The question for any leader is what happens when the programme or the platform on which you secured the leadership has been shredded.”

Mr Gove was highly critical of Ms Truss’s now-abandoned tax cutting agenda, deeming it “not Conservative”. He last week made a series of veiled attacks on Ms Truss over Twitter, strongly suggesting that he thought her time in office was nearing an end after she sacked Kwasi Kwarteng.

Truss tells ERG reversing tax cuts was ‘painful'

Tuesday 18 October 2022 18:53 , Liam James

Liz Truss told the European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteer Tory MPs that she found it “painful” to allow her tax cuts to be abandoned but she U-turned “because she had to”, a spokesperson for the prime minister said.

Ms Truss addressed ERG members in Westminster including business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and ERG chair and former minister Mark Francois this evening.

The prime minister smiled at reporters as she arrived, and table-banging was heard as she entered the room.

Mr Rees-Mogg said the meeting went “extremely well”.

Austerity cuts could be as deep as 2010, experts warn

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:55 , Liam James

Spending cuts ahead could be as deep as those seen during the Tory austerity programme which followed the 2008-09 banking crash, economists have warned (Adam Forrest writes).

It comes as Labour accused Lis Truss’s new chancellor Jeremy Hunt of leading the push for “austerity season two”, as he looks to balance the books after the disastrous mini-Budget.

And experts have warned that families face annual household energy bills of £5,000 from April after the government’s U-turn on the promise of two years of support.

The Resolution Foundation said many middle-income families may be unable to pay energy bills next year after the two-year universal support package was ditched.

Chief executive Torsten Bell said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was a fiscal black hole of around £30bn even after Mr Hunt scrapped nearly all of the tax cuts from the mini-Budget.

Austerity cuts could be as deep as 2010, experts warn

Labour lead widens to 40% in Red Wall seats

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:37 , Liam James

Labour opened up a 40 per cent lead over the Tories in the so-called Red Wall seats by Monday, polling by Redfield and Wilton found.

Support for the opposition party stayed on 61 per cent from 4 October while the Tories dropped another two points to hit 21 per cent in the mostly northern English constituencies where Boris Johnson claimed the votes of traditional Labour backers in 2019.

Sir Keir Starmer’s personal approval rating fell 6 points to 6 per cent – still relatively high for the Labour leader – but given Liz Truss’s continuing slide in popularity, the proportion of voters who believed he would make a better prime minister rose to 58 per cent against her 15 per cent.

Labour has torn ahead in the polls since Liz Truss set out on her doomed “dash for growth”, with the Tories forecast for near wipeout in a general election. A national poll by Redfield and Wilton yesterday gave Labour a 36 point lead.

Tuesday’s poll covered 40 traditionally Labour voting seats that were won by the Tories in 2019, with the exception of Hartlepool which Labour lost last year in a by-election.

Liz Truss is ‘charmless, graceless, brainless, and useless’, former Tory minister says

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:05 , Liam James

Liz Truss is “charmless, graceless, brainless, and useless”, a former Conservative minister has said (Jon Stone writes).

Speaking on Tuesday Edwina Currie, an ex-health minister, said there was absolutely no way the prime minister would survive in office.

Her comments comes after a poll showed majority of Tory members now want the prime minister to resign.

55 per cent of card-carrying Conservatives want Ms Truss to step down – with just 38 per cent wanting her to stay in office, according to the survey by YouGov.

Asked during an interview with the GB News channel whether Ms Truss could survive, Ms Currie said: “Oh, no, of course she can’t survive. Oh my goodness. I’m going to put this on record. I think she is charmless, graceless, brainless and useless.”

Liz Truss is ‘charmless, graceless, brainless, and useless’, ex Tory minister says

Truss drops commitment to pension triple-lock

Tuesday 18 October 2022 16:47 , Liam James

Liz Truss has abandoned her commitment to the state pension triple lock, which raises payments in line with the higher of: 2.5 per cent, wages or inflation.

As recently as 2 October Ms Truss was clear state pensions would increase in April according to the longstanding system.

“I’ve committed to the triple lock. Yes,” she said in a BBC interview.

But, after replacing Kwasi Kwarteng in the Treasury after their disastrous mini-budget, Downing Street backed down on this pledge as new chancellor Jeremy Hunt told ministers they would have to find savings from their departmental budgets.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We are very aware of how many vulnerable pensioners there are and indeed our priority ahead of this fiscal plan is we continue to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“The prime minister and the chancellor are not making any commitments on individual policy areas at this point, but as I say the decisions will be made through the prism of what matters most to the most vulnerable.”

Tory MP writes about ‘dumpster fires’, pundits read between lines

Tuesday 18 October 2022 16:28 , Liam James

A Tory MP has written a suspiciously timed article about the dangers of “dumpster fires” being allowed to rage for too long.

Political pundits on Twitter suggest the ostensibly safety conscious Robert Largan was really sending a coded message to colleagues that it was time for them to move to oust Liz Truss.

“Without action, dumpster fires can rage on for long periods of time, spreading quickly and causing major structural damage,” he wrote.

Another line was: “The longer the fire is left to rage, the greater the danger to the integrity of the skip.”

He concluded: “The act of extinguishing the flames could well be the end of the skip they originated in. But urgent action is necessary nevertheless.”

Mr Largan is not the first Tory to fire off apparently coded messages against the ailing prime minister on social media.

Michael Gove, Ms Truss’s cabinet colleague for many years who has lately been critical of her from the backbenches, posted a pair of tweets after the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday that many saw to be “trolling” the prime minister as her leadership floundered.

Tweeting about a pair of constituency visits, Mr Gove made a series of thinly veiled references to mounting pressure for Ms Truss to resign – “all should be fixed by mid November” – and the fallout from the failure of her economic policies: “discussed funding pressures, support for the vulnerable and recruitment and retention.”

For Liz Truss, sorry seems to be the second hardest word

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:50 , Liam James

The very hardest one begins with R. And we’ll be hearing it sooner rather than later, writes Tom Peck.

Read Tom’s full piece here:

For Liz Truss, sorry seems to be the second hardest word | Tom Peck

Has Jeremy Hunt done enough to save us from recession?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:20 , Matt Mathers

There is no way of sugar-coating the harsh facts, writes Hamish McRae.

Read Hamish’s full piece here:

Has Jeremy Hunt done enough to save us from recession? | Hamish McRae

UK summons Chinese official over ‘chilling’ attack on Hong Kong protester at Manchester consulate

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:05 , Matt Mathers

Liz Truss’s government has summoned the Chinese ambassador’s deputy after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was beaten in the grounds of China’s consulate in Manchester.

Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman said the government was “extremely concerned at the apparent scenes of violence” at the consulate and had told the Chinese embassy of the need to allow people to protest peacefully.

Our politics correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Chinese diplomat summoned over ‘chilling’ beating of man at consulate

No 10: We’re sticking to defence spending pledge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 14:50 , Matt Mathers

Downing Street has insisted Liz Truss will not back down on a key commitment to boost defence spending after the armed forces minister publicly threatened to quit if new chancellor Jeremy Hunt ditches the pledge.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, would also be under pressure to follow James Heappey in resigning if the prime minister's promise to spend 3 per cent of national income on defence by 2030 was broken.

Mr Heappey said he and Mr Wallace, who is tipped as a potential successor to Ms Truss in Downing Street, both believe the pledge "must be delivered" and warned there is "no prosperity without security".

No 10 went on to insist the PM is "committed" to the promise, but hinted at possible slower rises in defence spending ahead of the end of the decade.

Mr Hunt has refused to rule out rowing back on the promise as he searches for cuts to plug a multimillion-pound black hole in the nation's finances.

UK criticises Putin’s ‘cowardly’ missile attacks

Tuesday 18 October 2022 14:38 , Matt Mathers

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities are "cowardly" acts by Vladimir Putin, the UK has said.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly said they were the "desperate acts" of a man losing the war.

Meanwhile Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, was preparing for talks in the US about the situation in Ukraine and other issues of shared concern.

Jeremy Hunt is copying Labour, Starmer suggests

Tuesday 18 October 2022 14:08 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer said the government now has “no economic policy” after chancellor Jeremy Hunt “demolished” the Liz Truss mini-Budget. The Labour leader said the government had shot its economic credibility “to pieces”, Adam Forrest, our politics correspondent, reports.

Sir Keir told the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2 that Labour was now “basically setting the economic agenda”, with the government “playing catch up”, after Mr Hunt announced “all the things that we said they should do”.

Again calling for general election, he said: “We can’t go on like this, shutting the public out, and I think many people now feel that the real risk now is carrying on with this lot rather than actually having a general election, bringing in a Labour government and securing our economy.”

PM ‘not making promises on pension triple lock at this point’

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:52 , Lamiat Sabin

Liz Truss appears to have backed down on her commitment to the triple lock on state pensions after the appointment of new chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

The prime minister had previously vowed to defend the triple lock – the guarantee that the state pension will rise every year in line with inflation, earnings, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.

Her official spokesman said: “We are very aware of how many vulnerable pensioners there are and indeed our priority ahead of this fiscal plan is we continue to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“The prime minister and the chancellor are not making any commitments on individual policy areas at this point, but as I say the decisions will be made through the prism of what matters most to the most vulnerable.”

Asked what the point of a “triple lock” on pensions was if the government refused to stick to it, the spokesman acknowledged the impact of “domestic decisions” on the public finances.

He said: “We are in difficult circumstances. And we’ve acknowledged the reasons for why we are in this position both in terms of domestic decisions and international factors.

“And the chancellor and the prime minister are of the view that it’s right to consider all options as a whole, rather than going through individual policies piece by piece.”

ICYMI: What’s most tempting about a Labour government right now?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:37 , Matt Mathers

Policies will matter at the next election, of course, but a firm promise that politics can and will become boring again will be key, writes Marie Le Conte.

Read Marie’s full piece here:

What’s most tempting about a Labour government right now? | Marie Le Conte

ICYMI: What does the chancellor’s emergency statement mean for Liz Truss?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:30 , Matt Mathers

The one thing saving Truss from immediate dismissal is her party’s inability to reach a consensus on who should succeed her, writes Andrew Grice.

Read Andrew’s full piece here:

What does the chancellor’s emergency statement mean for Liz Truss? | Andrew Grice

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website