What happens now Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned? Will there be a general election?

Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned after just six weeks in the role.

Ms Truss announced her resignation after a chaotic 44 days in office during which she lost the confidence of Tory MPs and the public and oversaw economic turbulence. She is set to become the shortest serving Prime Minister in history after she battled an open revolt from Conservatives demanding her departure.

Her resignation comes after a period of political upheaval, Truss sacked Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor of the Exchequer last week. He was then replaced by Jeremy Hunt who on Monday (17 October) scrapped “almost all” of the pledges originally made in the tax-cutting budget - a move which some believe has undermined the Prime Minister’s already-crumbling authority.

Her home secretary Suella Braverman departed from the role on Wednesday (19 October), replaced by Grant Shapps. Ms Braverman stepped down after a “security breach”.

Ms Truss will remain Prime Minister until a successor is confirmed, but how will they be picked and how will the contest works? Here’s what you need to know.

What happens if Liz Truss resigns?

If Truss resigns as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister, another Tory leadership contest would begin. This is what happened when Boris Johnson was ousted as Prime Minister following the Chris Pincher scandal and Partygate, and is how Truss originally secured the job.

In her statement announcing her resignation, Ms Truss confirmed that there will now be a leadership election to be completed within the next week. The timescale was confirmed after speaking to the leader of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, in No 10.

Will there be a general election?

The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and even some of the Prime Minister’s own Tory MPs are amongst those calling for an early general election. However, according to the rules, the government is under no obligation to hold an election before January 2025.

Sometimes, when a new Prime Minister is appointed, an election will be called as the PM in question wants to prove they have the support of the public before continuing in office - which is what Boris Johnson and Theresa May did. But it is not necessary to do so, and with the Conservatives falling behind Labour in the opinion polls, it is highly unlikely that Truss or a new leader would decide to call one.

Reacting to Ms Truss’s resignation, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded a general election “now”.

How will the leadership election work?

The details of the leadership election to replace Ms Truss have not been confirmed, aside from the fact it will take place over the next week.

Harry Cole of The Sun reports that there is talk of an “online vote” of members next week. He tweeted: “ Talk of candidates chosen Monday with online vote of members with result next Friday, but currently no formally confirmed.”

What did she say in her resignation speech?

Speaking from a lectern in Downing Street, Ms Truss said she had told the King she was resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party. It comes just a little over 24 hours after she told MPs she was a “fighter, not a quitter”.