Some Bristolians were still unaware this afternoon (October 19) Prime Minister Liz Truss had announced she was resigning after some 45 days as leader of the Conservative Party, when Bristol Live ventured along Gloucester Road to gauge reaction. Others had not stopped talking about it with friends, colleagues and family since the news broke.
"You only have to look at the memes", one said in reference to the latest jokes around which would last longer - a lettuce or Liz Truss. Another asked: "Has she really gone then?", though wasn't at all surprised when told she had resigned just a few hours ago.
One Bristol worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's so funny because just yesterday me and my sister were talking about how we didn't think Liz Truss would last the rest of the year. It's unbelievable."
Read more: Liz Truss’s resignation statement in full
She went on to say: "We've gone through so many. That'll be four Prime Ministers we'll have had, when this new one comes in, since 2018 I think - and this one's only been in her role for not much more than a month.
"It's all about who comes next now - I bet Boris will be back in the running. He's only slightly better than Liz Truss."
Another Bristol resident referred back to the Queen, saying: "It's sad that the late Queen's final Prime Minister before her death hasn't delivered on what she promised. I wonder if she feels guilty for that - on top of the mistakes she's made - she's definitely not been a political role model for women."
Business owners shared a mixture of feelings and many of them were concerned that another competition for the role of PM would only distract the government from the task at hand, reassuring constituents that they have a plan for the cost of living crisis and rising energy prices - and delivering it. Owner of furniture business Cabra Stores, Coln told Bristol Live: "Promises to businesses have been made before but never kept.
"It was tough during Covid and then we've had quiet periods and have seen a bit of a pick up in business, but now it's gone back to being quiet again. The realisation of high bills will put a squeeze on businesses now too and we'll start to see the effects of that. It is worrying."
Other workers, who had been working in a shop along the busy road at the time of the announcement by Liz Truss, said there were simply no words to describe how they were feeling but rather a shrug of the shoulders and a "harumph" - they seemed truly fed up of the talk of politics. One told us she had gone for a tea break and come back out to hear the news from her colleague, but said she had "been expecting it, just not this soon".
She added that a family member now living abroad had been asking "what on earth is going on back home" with reference to the government's recent mini-budget announcements and U-turns. One of her colleagues said money guru Martin Lewis would be the best candidate for PM and called for a general election, adding that the government should "really be focusing on the environment but that's at the bottom of their list".
All of the businesses we spoke to said they were already worrying about the costs of running their businesses and Liz Truss' resignation earlier today hasn't done much to relieve their fears.
Read next:
- Could Boris Johnson be the next Prime Minister? Public figures have their say
- Rishi Sunak will run to be the next Prime Minister, allies say
- Truss resignation means UK will have seven living ex-PMs for first time
- Bristol GP warns of 'trouble on the horizon' as new committee report released
- Independent inquiry to investigate Bristol council officers monitoring SEND parents
