It may only be one month into Liz Truss’ tenureship of Prime Minister, but the pressure is already on for the Tory leader.
Following a controversial and unpopular mini-budget filled with her tax-cutting policies, to questions over whether benefits will be cuts amid the cost of living crisis, some critics have predicted that Ms Truss may not be long for the job. The Prime Minister will be hoping to prove the doubters wrong, having lamented that she believes her policies will build growth in the UK economy.
However, with the Conservative Party tanking in the polls as a result of the mini-budget, Ms Truss may not have time to turn the opinion of her critics with some Tory MPs reportedly already submitting letters of no confidence in their leader. These MPs have also suspected another change in Tory leadership could come as soon as Christmas.
So if Ms Truss were to be gone by Christmas, where would she rank in the list of UK Prime Ministers for time served in the post? NationalWorld has taken a look at the top 15 shortest-serving Prime Minister in history.
However, with the Conservative Party tanking in the polls as a result of the mini-budget, Ms Truss may not have time to turn the opinion of her critics with some Tory MPs reportedly already submitting letters of no confidence in their leader. These MPs have also suspected another change in Tory leadership could come as soon as Christmas.
5. William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire - 225 days
William Cavendish held the post for a total of 225 days - around seven and a half months - from 1756 until 1757. Although he was actually classed as the First Lord of the Treasury, most historians consider him to be the Prime Minister in power at that specific time. His government was removed after opposition from King George II. | Gov.uk
6. John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute - 317 days
John Stuart served for a total of 317 days from 26 May 1762 until 8 April 1763. The 3rd Earl of Bute was the first UK Prime Minister from Scotland to hold the role after the Acts of Union in 1707. He eventually vacated power after resigning from the role of PM. | Getty Images
7. Sir Alec Douglas-Home - 363 days
Sir Alec-Douglas-Home is known as one of the 20th century’s shortest-serving Prime Ministers. The Conservative politician was the last leader to hold office while being a member of the House of Lords, rather than the House of Commons - he resigned from the House of Lords to join the House of Commons throughout his premiership. Douglas-Home was chosen to replace Harold Macmillan after he fell ill, however he inherited a wounded Tory party at the time in the middle of the fallout of the Profumo Affair. The Conservative lost the 1964 General Election, meaning that Douglas-Home only served for 363 days. | Getty Images
8. William Grenville - 1 year, 49 days
The Lord Grenville took up the role of Prime Minister on 11 February 1806. One of his biggest achievements in power included abolishing the slave trade in 1807, however his administration was not able to broker peace with France or accomplishing Catholic emancipation. As a result of these failures, Grenville and his government were removed from power on 25 March 1807. | Getty Images