Liz Truss resigns as U.K. prime minister after just 44 days


Liz Truss announced her intention to resign as the United Kingdom's prime minister on Thursday, only six weeks into her tumultuous term. Her departure makes her the shortest-serving U.K. prime minister in history, CNN reports.
In a statement outside Downing Street, Truss said she would be stepping aside so that her replacement could be chosen within the next week, following mounting pressure from her own Conservative Party's legislators. They said they lost faith in her leadership capabilities, per CNN.
During her brief statement, Truss said, "I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected," per The New York Times. She said she had informed King Charles III of her resignation and would remain in her position until a leadership election chose her successor.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Truss' tenure as prime minister has been marked with controversy and economic uncertainty as she struggled to gain control after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's departure over the summer. Her announcement signals more trouble for the ruling Conservative Party, which has struggled to regain public confidence since Johnson stepped down, per CNN.
Truss' efficacy as a leader was called into question after her former Treasury secretary Kwasi Kwarteng released a mini-budget featuring proposals for steep tax cuts that threw the British economy into chaos. The value of the British pound plummeted to a record low against the U.S. dollar, and Truss subsequently fired Kwarteng. The government worked to reverse her tax proposals, but the damage was already done as Truss's approval rating fell dramatically, the Times reports.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US