Should there be a General Election – POLL
Boris Johnson ponders No 10 comeback following Liz Truss’s exit
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In scenes reminiscent of her predecessors, Liz Truss delivered a brief speech to confirm her resignation as Prime Minister, a role she had assumed just 45 days ago. Her disastrous spell in office culminated in her earning the title of the UK’s shortest-serving Prime Minister in modern history, eclipsing the 119 days served by George Canning, who died while in charge. But while the Conservative Party begin looking for her replacement, swathes of the electorate and rival parties are demanding a general election take place. So, should a general election be called? Vote in our poll.
The likes of Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey have all demanded Britain head to the polls after Ms Truss delivered her resignation speech on Thursdaay.
Sir Keir told the BBC that the UK “cannot have another experiment at the top of the Tory party”, citing that it was not the British electorate had not voted for Ms Truss but Conservative Party members.
The Green Party and Plaid Cymru echoed his demand, and Ms Sturgeon claimed it was a “democratic imperative” that the nation has a general election.
She said: “This is an almighty mess, and it is people the length and breadth of the UK who are paying the price of this. Fundamentally the UK now needs to have a democratic choice over its next Prime Minister.”
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In a stinging attack, Sir Ed adding: “We do not need another Conservative prime minister lurching from crisis to crisis, we need a general election. It is time for Conservative MPs to do their patriotic duty, put the country first and give the people a say.”
While the parties may wish to have a general election, the law states that one does not have to be called until at least 2024, five years after Boris Johnson secured a landslide victory for the Conservative Party.
Before any election can be called, the Tories need to find a leader. Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee, outlined how the next Prime Minister will be found, confirming that candidates would need the backing of at least 100 Tory MPs.
Key figures reportedly aiming to hit that threshold are ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, and Mr Johnson.
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If more than one candidate hits that threshold by Monday, Tory members will cast their vote online for who they wish to be the party’s next leader, with a deadline of Friday, October 28 for the new Prime Minister to be confirmed.
The latest odds on the winner of the race have seen Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson rise to the top, with Ms Mordaunt following behind in third. William Hill says the odds on Mr Johnson returning have been slashed dramatically in the aftermath of Ms Truss’ announcement.
The betting firm’s spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “The weight of money we’ve received for Boris Johnson to return as Conservative Party leader is indicative of the chaos ensuing in Westminster at the moment.
“A massive 40 percent of bets this morning have all been on Boris to be restored, with the former Prime Minister now just 6/4 to take over the reins following Liz Truss’ resignation.
“That marks a significant change from his odds of 12/1 just before Truss’ departure, with punters clearly convinced he has a good chance of making an unprecedented comeback.”
So what do YOU think? Should there be a General Election? Vote now.
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