UK Prime Minister Liz Truss Resigns After Six Weeks On Duty
- AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
VIVA – Liz Truss decided to resign as UK Prime Minister on Thursday, October 20, 2022. Liz Truss was on duty for only six weeks, making her the shortest-term prime minister in UK history.
After the meeting with Sir Graham Brady, Truss said in a statement that she was unable to carry out the duties her party had assigned him just weeks earlier.
"But I admit, given the situation, I cannot deliver a mandate in which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party," Liz Truss said, who was supported only by her husband, with her aides and loyal ministers noticeably absent.
Liz Truss got off to an unlucky start as Prime Minister when three days after taking office on September 5, Queen Elizabeth II died. Then, on September 23, UK Treasury Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced the now disastrous 'Trussonomics' mini-budget in a desperate gamble to ease the costs of life's crisis and soaring energy bills.
Tax cuts of up to £45 billion caused the pound to plummet against the dollar and sent bond yields soaring.
Two days later, the Bank of England was forced to step in and buy long-term British bonds on concerns that a cash call could trigger a gold market crash after their Chief Economist Huw Pill said tax cuts required a "significant" policy response.
After more than a week of standing with a heavily criticized economic package, Kwasi Kwarteng made plans to abolish an additional 45 percent tax rate for the highest earners.
Following further steps by the Bank of England to prop up the slumping economy, Kwasi Kwarteng resigned from his postition on October 14 and Jeremy Hunt replaced his place, promising to reverse many policies.
Kwarteng only lasted 38 days and becomes the second shortest chancellor in UKÂ history after Ian Macleod who only lasted 30 days.
Five days later, Truss's Cabinet descended into further chaos when Suella Braverman also resigned as UK Home Secretary after sending official documents from personal email to fellow MPs. This is a serious violation of ministerial rules.
Then, Grant Shapps replaced Braverman as Minister of Home Affairs. The resignations of two ministers prompted more than a dozen Tory supporters to call for his resignation. Then, the next day, Liz Truss resigned as UKÂ Prime Minister.
For information, as launched by ABC News, Liz Truss took 12 years in Parliament to reach the peak of British political power. Now, after just 45 days in charge of the country, she has assumed the title of prime minister with the shortest term in British history.