Liz Truss news latest: Crispin Blunt becomes first Tory MP to call for PM to go
‘The game is up’: First Tory MP publicly calls for Liz Truss to step down
Crispin Blunt has become the first Conservative MP to publicly call for Liz Truss to resign.
The MP for Reigate is set to issue his appeal for her resignation as prime minister when he appears on The Andrew Neil Show tonight on Channel 4, where he is to say that the “game is up” for Ms Truss.
Former chancellor George Osborne will also tell the veteran political journalist that Ms Truss will likely be gone “before Christmas”.
Meanwhile, ex-health secretary Matt Hancock is expected to take a more optimistic tack, telling the programme that Ms Truss can survive if she acts now.
Earlier, the former health secretary led calls for the PM to reshuffle her cabinet to add some of the “huge amount of talent on the backbenches”.
The MP, who had to resign as from the health department after being caught violating his own Covid social distancing rules by having an office affair with his aide, added: “I’m not talking about me.”
Jeremy Hunt leaving Chequers after meeting Liz Truss
The new chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been photographed leaving the prime minister’s countryside retreat this afternoon after arriving on Sunday for talks.
It is unclear exactly what the pair discussed, but it is more than likely they spent the time finessing a plan for upcoming economic policy.
A medium-term fiscal plan is expected to be published on 31 October.
(PA)
(PA)
Thomas Kingsley16 October 2022 17:40
Truss faces winter of discontent with nearly 2 million workers balloted and coordinated strikes ‘likely’
Liz Truss’s government is hurtling towards another winter of discontent with moves for coordinated industrial action expected to pass this week.
It comes as the true scale of industrial action is revealed for the first time, with up to one in 16 employees – 1.9 million people – set to strike or be balloted for industrial action in the coming months, an analysis by The Independent has found.
Essential public sector staff such as teachers, nurses and junior doctors could all down tools as they fight for pay rises in the face of soaring inflation.
Read the full story below from our Whitehall correspondent, Kate Devlin:
Coordinated strikes ‘likely’ with nearly 2 million workers balloted
Exclusive: 1.9 million people set to strike or be balloted for industrial action in coming months, analysis by The Independent finds
Thomas Kingsley16 October 2022 17:20
Debate on petition to call ‘immediate general election’ tomorrow
Parliament will debate a petition to call an “immediate general election” on Monday.
The petition has upwards of 618,792 signatures, far past the number needed to spark a debate in the House of Commons.
In response to the campaign, the government said: “The UK is a parliamentary democracy and the Conservative Party remains the majority party.
“The prime minister has pledged to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations.”
Read the full story below from our political editor, Andrew Woodcock:
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