Mark Drakeford has lambasted the “complete and utter failure” of Liz Truss’ short-lived UK Government following her resignation after only weeks in the role. Indeed Ms Truss never extended Wales’ First Minister the courtesy of a customary phone call – and it appears she will leave office without ever speaking to the Welsh Labour leader.
Shortly after Ms Truss stood outside Downing Street to announce her intention to step down Mr Drakeford said in a statement: “This has been a complete and utter failure of government with everyone in this country now having to pay the price. The complete lack of leadership is preventing decisions and actions from being taken to deal with the many challenges we are facing and help people over what is going to be a very difficult winter.
“Unfortunately the deep and intractable divisions within the government means that any successor put forward will face the same set of challenges. A general election is now the only way to end this paralysis.”
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also demanded a general election “now” so that the nation can have “a chance at a fresh start”. Without a general election the Conservatives will be on their third prime minister on the mandate won by Boris Johnson in December 2019.
Sir Keir said: “The Conservative Party has shown it no longer has a mandate to govern. The British public deserve a proper say on the country’s future. They must have the chance to compare the Tories’ chaos with Labour’s plans to sort out their mess, grow the economy for working people, and rebuild the country for a fairer, greener future. We must have a chance at a fresh start. We need a general election – now.”
But in her statement Ms Truss said she would remain in post until a successor was chosen with a selection race set to take a week. Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, said he expected the new leader to be in place by Friday, October 28. Newly-installed chancellor Jeremy Hunt – who has already ruled himself out of the race to take over the top job – is due to set out a new economic programme on October 31. He told reporters: “I have spoken to the party chairman Jake Berry and he has confirmed that it will be possible to conduct a ballot and conclude a leadership election by Friday, October 28. So we should have a new leader in place before the fiscal statement which will take place on the 31st.” Follow all the latest updates with our rolling coverage here.
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