Liz Truss has just announced that she is stepping down as British Prime Minister, she had been in the role for just six weeks.
She has resigned as leader of the British Conversative party and says a leadership election is to be completed within the next week, and she will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen.
The British Prime Minister made the announcement outside Downing Street in the past half an hour after holding "crisis talks" with the chairman of the 1922 Committee.
After just 44 days in office, she becomes the UK's shortest serving Prime Minister.
In her resignation speech Liz Truss said her Government delivered on energy bills, and on cutting national insurance but she now recognises that she "cannot deliver the mandate" on which she was elected - "given the situation".
"We delivered on energy bills and cutting national insurance. We set out a vision for a low tax-high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit. I recognize 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. That will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week. This will ensure that 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. Thank you."
Reaction has been swift to her announcement with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt saying he will not make a bid for leadership.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey have both called for an immediate general election.
