By Oyintari Ben
After only 45 days in the position, Prime Minister Liz Truss abruptly announced her resignation on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said that a Tory leadership election will be held in the coming week to choose her successor.
After her government was overthrown and the majority of her economic policies were abandoned, Tory MPs urged Ms. Truss to leave.
Ms. Truss was elected by the Conservative membership in September, but after making a number of U-turns, she was forced to resign.
“I realize that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party,” Ms Truss said in a speech delivered outside Downing Street.
Ms. Truss stated that she would stay in her position until a replacement formally assumed party leadership and was named prime minister by King Charles III.
When Ms. Truss leaves office, she will hold the record for the shortest tenure as prime minister in British history. She took office 44 days ago.
Following Ms. Truss’ resignation address, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer demanded a quick election.
As the crisis in Ukraine rages and living expenses soar, Ms. Truss stated in her speech that she took office “at a period of great economic and international turmoil.”
However, her retirement follows the resignation of a crucial minister, former home secretary Suella Braverman, and a disorderly parliamentary vote in which Tory MPs dissented.
