LIZ Truss has dramatically RESIGNED as Prime Minister after just 44 days in office – but it’s left Brits confused as to what happens next.
Here we explain whether or not there could be an early general election…
Liz Truss dramatically resigned today
How often is a general election?
General elections normally take place every five years, however, sometimes a Parliament might ask the monarchy to dissolve the current office or the monarch decides to do so, meaning it could be sooner.
The last general election was called in December 2019, as Boris Johnson called one early.
What happens now?
In an address to the nation this afternoon, the PM confirmed there will be a leadership election “in the next week”.
She said: “I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elect and told King Charles I am resigning.”
What could cause an early election?
The Prime Minister can choose to call a General Election whenever they wish before their five-year term is up.
Former PM David Cameron brought in new rules in 2011 that limited the powers of premiers to trigger snap contests.
He introduced the Fixed Term Parliament Act to provide stability for his coalition with Nick Clegg‘s Lib Dems.
Under it, an election could only be called if a two-thirds supermajority of MPs vote in favour or the Government lost a confidence motion.
But the act had unintended consequences and led to parliamentary gridlock during the Brexit talks.
It meant ex-premier Mrs May, who was a lame duck without a majority, was unable to force an election.
Mr Johnson scrapped the legislation in March 2022 and returned to the system where the PM is in control of triggering a national vote.
Will there be an early general election?
The Labour party are pushing for an immediate general election in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation.
Keir Starmer today ranted: “The Conservative Party has shown it no longer has a mandate to govern.
“The Tories cannot respond to their latest shambles by yet again simply clicking their fingers and shuffling the people at the top without the consent of the British people.
“They do not have a mandate to put the country through yet another experiment; Britain is not their personal fiefdom to run how they wish.
“The British public deserve a proper say on the country’s future. They must have the chance to compare the Tories’ chaos with Labour’s plans to sort out their mess, grow the economy for working people and rebuild the country for a fairer, greener future. We must have a chance at a fresh start. We need a general election – now.”
