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We need a general election now, says Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer We need a general election now, says Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
(about 4 hours later)
Watch: Sir Keir Starmer renews his call for a general election Watch: 'What a mess' - Sir Keir on Tory party leadership
Watch: Sir Keir Starmer renews his call for a general election Watch: 'What a mess' - Sir Keir on Tory party leadership
Sir Keir Starmer has called for an immediate general election, accusing the government of losing "control of itself and the economy". Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for an immediate general election following the resignation of the prime minister on Thursday.
The Labour leader says the Conservatives hit "a new chaotic low" after Wednesday's chaos in Parliament. Sir Keir said the country "can not have another experiment at the top of the Tory party".
Speaking at the TUC congress, Sir Keir said a Labour government would deliver "fair pay, good work, and prosperity for all". Liz Truss resigned as prime minister after just 45 days in the job, claiming she "cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected".
His election challenge came as more Tory MPs called for the PM to quit. A new prime minister is expected to be announced by 28 October.
On a day of high political drama, Suella Braverman quit as home secretary, and a vote on fracking in Parliament descended into chaos, with MPs accused of bullying their colleagues. It will be the second Conservative Party leadership election this year.
The tumultuous events followed a forced U-turn on tax cuts that left financial markets reeling and provoked days of open revolt among Tory MPs. Follow Live: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime ministers
On Thursday, one senior Tory MP, Simon Hoare, said he thought Prime Minister Liz Truss has "12 hours" to save her job. A quick guide to why Liz Truss resigned
Follow Live: Crisis for Truss deepens after day of chaos Could there be an early election?
So what are the prime minister's options now? The Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party have also been calling for an immediate general election.
Shapps replaces Braverman as home secretary
In his speech to the TUC conference, Sir Keir said the Tories were too bogged down with "pathetic squabbles" to government the country.
"This cannot continue," Sir Keir said. "Britain deserves better.
"Britain cannot afford the chaos of the Conservatives anymore. We need a general election now."
In his pitch to lead the country, Sir Keir said Labour had a long-term plan to "deliver cheaper bills and higher living standards for working people, growth and jobs in every part of our country".
He outlined some of the policies he announced at Labour's annual conference last month, including those in its "green prosperity plan"
The plan includes pledges to create a publicly owned renewable energy firm, achieve carbon-free electricity by 2030, and insulate 19 million homes.
The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have also been calling for an early general election.
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said the "utter chaos at the centre of the Tory government cannot continue any longer".SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said the "utter chaos at the centre of the Tory government cannot continue any longer".
Last week, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor "should be the death knell of the Conservatives' reckless mismanagement of our economy". Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: "We do not need another Conservative prime minister lurching from crisis to crisis, we need a general election.
"It is time for Conservative MPs to do their patriotic duty, put the country first and give the people a say."
The next general election is not due to take place until at least 2024, after the Conservatives won a landslide majority in the last one in 2019.The next general election is not due to take place until at least 2024, after the Conservatives won a landslide majority in the last one in 2019.
The government could trigger an early general election but Ms Truss - who has been prime minister for 44 days - has given no indication she will do so. Ms Truss was elected by the Tory membership in September, but she lost authority after a series of U-turns.
One way Labour could push for an early general election is by calling for a no-confidence vote against the government in Parliament. In a brief speech outside Downing Street, Ms Truss said the Conservative Party had elected her on a mandate to cut taxes and boost economic growth.
But such a vote is unlikely to bring down the government because the Conservatives have a large majority in the House of Commons. But given the situation, Ms Truss said: "I recognise that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party."
Ms Truss said she would remain in post until a successor formally takes over as party leader and is appointed prime minister by King Charles III.
She will become the shortest-serving PM in British history when she stands down.
A YouGov poll on Tuesday gave the Conservative party a 77% disapproval rate. Only 7% of those polled by YouGov approved of the government's record to date.
Leading pollster Professor Sir John Curtice said whoever leads the Conservative party next should "enjoy the next 18 months to two years, because that will probably their tenure".
"Parties and governments who preside over a fiscal crisis have nearly always struggled at the ballot box at the next election," Sir John said.
Sir Keir said: "This is not just a soap opera at the top of the tory party - it's doing huge damage to the reputation of our country.
"We need a general election so the public can have their say on this utter chaos.
"There is an alternative and that is a stable Labour government. We are ready to form a government and stabilise the economy and implement a real plan for government living standards and help people through a cost of living crisis. "
In his speech to the TUC conference earlier, Sir Keir said the Tories were too bogged down with "pathetic squabbles" to government the country.
Sir Keir said Labour had a long-term plan to "deliver cheaper bills and higher living standards for working people, growth and jobs in every part of our country".
He outlined some of the policies he announced at Labour's annual conference last month, including those in its "green prosperity plan"
The plan includes pledges to create a publicly owned renewable energy firm, achieve carbon-free electricity by 2030, and insulate 19 million homes.