There have been fresh calls for Prime Minister Liz Truss to resign after new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced he was ditching nearly all of the measures set out in last month's controversial mini-budget. Pressure has mounted on the PM, who was only appointed to the post in September, with members of her own party calling for her to go following the embarrassing U-turns.
In a live address to the nation, Hunt announced he would be reversing a number of key tax cut policies with the Government's plans to cut the basic rate of income tax from 20 per cent to 19 per cent cancelled for the foreseeable future. He also confirmed that a big change would be made to the energy price guarantee which was announced less than a month ago, with the scheme to cap all household energy bills for two years now set to be cut from April 2023. You can read more about these new plans here.
The reversals come as Truss faces calls to step down by members of her own party, including a Welsh MP. Get the latest political news and updates from WalesOnline sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
Read more: Liz Truss told she needs to go as Welsh MP releases open letter telling her to stand down
Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis joined Crispin Blunt and Andrew Bridgen calling on the Prime Minister to quit on Sunday by penning an open letter telling her to step down. The Welsh politician said Truss' decisions "undermined Britain's credibility as a trustworthy, responsible leading economy and fractured [the Conservative] party in a potentially irreparable manner".
He added: "I ask you to stand down as Prime Minister as I believe you no longer hold the confidence of the country or the parliamentary party. It is the right thing to do to ensure the stability, security and prosperity of the people whom we owe everything."
Despite support from some members, other senior figures within the parliamentary party have also called for her to go. Senior Tory backbencher Sir Charles Walker told Sky News' Beth Rigby that Ms Truss’s "position is untenable," adding: "She has put colleagues, the country, through a huge amount of unnecessary pain and upset and worry. We don't need a disruptor in No 10. We need a uniter."
Mr Blunt was the first MP to demand Truss's exit telling Channel 4's Andrew Neil Show on Sunday: "I think the game is up and it's now a question as to how the succession is managed." Even US President Joe Biden has called Ms Truss' economic vision a "mistake".
However, it is not just Tory backbenchers and other politicians who have been left dismayed by the Prime Minister's performance in her new job in recent weeks, with many people in Wales also wanting to see her resign. Taking to WalesOnline's Facebook page, some called Truss "absolutely shambolic" and "a joke", adding that she had "absolutely no credibility left".
"The whole lot of them are not fit for purpose," said Pippa Jade. "They are far more interested in saving their own skins than serving the country. Politics has become a circus." Andrew Stanley added: "She is a disaster for the UK and its economy," while Chris Smith said that the PM's performance had been "shameful".
Martin Ward criticised the "terrible state of affairs," adding: "I’ve voted Tory all my life, no more!". Dennis Williams added that Truss and her party "couldn't run a booze up in a brewery", writing: "Time for them to go. The majority of British people have had enough now, more than enough." Claire Hampson summed it up succinctly, commenting: "She needs to go now!".
Others were less focused on whether or not Truss would resign, instead taking bets on when she would step down, with her fate seemingly sealed in the eyes of many commenters. While some gave her until the end of the year, others gave her a matter of days, with many predicting she will become the shortest serving PM in British history.
"I'd be surprised if she gets to next Monday," said Non Gallagher, while Robert Lomas wrote: "I don't think the country can hang on until the start of next year." Ceri Hulme added: "I give her until Bonfire Night" and Michael Prescott was even more damning, commenting: "I'm half wondering if she will get through today."
Many saw her performance as a reason for a new general election to be called, although not many predicted a Tory victory. "General election now," said Cerys-Ann Walker, while Margaret Burgess echoed the calls, writing: "There should now be a general election." Mark Antoniazzi predicted: "Come April there won’t be a Conservative government," while Jonathan White wrote: "I think the Conservatives are unlikely to win the next election."
However, others thought the best course of action is to bring back an all too familiar face. "Bring back Boris," said one. "Every day was a laugh with BoJo at the helm." Adrian Liner wrote: "They wanted Boris out. They should have been careful in what they wished for," while Debbie Woodland agreed, adding: "They should have never stabbed Boris in the back."
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