North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale is calling for ‘stability’ to be ‘maintained’ following the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The PM stepped down today (October 20) after just 44 days in office and turmoil including a mini budget U Turn, the sacking of short-lived Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng, the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman and a tumultuous day in Parliament yesterday with claims of bullying over a fracking vote brought by Labour and the resignation – followed by an unresignation- of Tory chief whip Wendy Morton.
In her resignation statement she said: “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability.
“Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth.
“I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.
“And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.
“I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
“I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party.
“This morning I met the Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady. We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week.
“This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security. I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen.”
In a tweet North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said: “Following the resignation of the PM we need to maintain stability and as a Parliamentary party get behind an agreed leader that can allow Jeremy Hunt who, as Chancellor, will not be standing for the Leadership, to continue the vital work that he is doing on behalf of the country.”
Sir Roger is not in favour of a return by former PM Boris Johnson who resigned from his role last month amid a series of controversies leading to mass resignations.
Sir Roger said on social media: “We need to remember that Mr Johnson is still under investigation by the Privileges Committee for potentially misleading the House. Until that investigation is complete and he is found guilty or cleared, there should be no possibility of him returning to Government.”
