Status: 10/20/2022 2:28 p.m
Numerous MPs are calling for the resignation of Britain’s Prime Minister Truss, including from within her own ranks. Truss acknowledged Wednesday was a “difficult day” but wanted to move on.
After the resignation of British Home Secretary Suella Braverman and a chaotic vote in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Liz Truss admitted it was a “difficult day” – but she wants to continue despite massive criticism.
Her spokesman said: “The Prime Minister acknowledges that yesterday was a difficult day.” Truss wanted the government to focus “less on politics” and more on achieving its “priorities.”
At noon, Truss met with Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative faction’s powerful 1922 Committee, the PM’s official residence confirmed.
The body is responsible for the election and deselection of party leaders. If Brady feels the Prime Minister is no longer trusted by her group, she would have to resign. According to the government, the meeting came about at the request of Truss.
British Parliament
The Committee of 1922 – also known as “the 22” – is a committee of all backbench Conservative MPs. It meets weekly when the House of Commons is in session. Its leader, usually a high-ranking MP, is elected by committee members and wields considerable influence within the parliamentary party. Since 2010 this has been Sir Graham Brady.
It provides backbenchers with an opportunity to discuss policy and communicate their views to Cabinet. For a long time, MPs played an important role in determining who becomes party leader. It reflects the mood of the backbenchers and is a key factor of power within the party.
The 1922 Committee has also traditionally played an important role within the Tories in confidence votes and in the election of a new leader.
The 1922 Committee was actually formed in April 1923 on the initiative of new Conservative MPs elected in the 1922 general election to facilitate co-operation within the party.
At the same time, other MPs called for their resignation, including MPs from their own Conservative Party.
“Melee on a daily basis”
The government was chaotic, said Conservative MP Simon Hoare on the BBC. No one has a timetable, all the same “fights on a daily basis”. Truss has “about 12 hours” to shoot the situation.
“It’s time for the Prime Minister to go,” MP Miriam Cates said. And her colleague Steve Double said: “Unfortunately, she is not up to the job.”
Government crisis in Great Britain comes to a head
Sven Lohmann, ARD London, daily news at 12:00 p.m., October 20th, 2022
Newspapers close to the Tories also voiced sharp criticism. “The wheels fell off the Tories’ clown wagon,” read the headline of an editorial in the Daily Mail.
International Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan joined the Prime Minister in saying that the government was working to ensure stability. However, she could not guarantee that Truss would lead the party in the next elections. “Right now I think that’s the case,” she said on the radio.
Labor widen lead in polls
In opinion polls, the opposition Labor Party is clearly ahead and has recently increased its lead. Many conservatives are therefore hoping that Truss will be replaced. They disagree on how to do this without risking major damage to the party. In addition, there is no favorite for the successor.
“There were fisticuffs in the lobby”, Annette Dittert, ARD London, on chaotic scenes in the lower house
tagesschau24 11:00 a.m., 20.10.2022
Truss took over the post from Boris Johnson just six weeks ago. Her Interior Minister Bravermann resigned on Wednesday and expressed clear criticism of Truss’s course. On Wednesday evening, a chaotic vote in the House of Commons and rebellious MPs from her Tory party put the Prime Minister under further pressure. Previously, she had triggered financial chaos with planned tax breaks.