The leader of the Conservatives in Wales has said there should be a general election if Prime Minister Liz Truss cannot "regain confidence". He was speaking before it was announced that Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng had been sacked after only 38 days in the job.
The Prime Minister held a press conference at Downing Street on Friday afternoon, after appointing Jeremy Hunt to the role. You can read our live coverage of what she had to say, here.
But Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies called on Ms Truss to "turn this situation around." In an interview with Times Radio, he said: "It's important now that we reflect on where we're at, the prime minister seeks to regain that confidence, and if she can't regain that confidence, it would be right that people have their chance to have their say on this matter". You can get more politics news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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When asked if that meant he was calling for a general election, he added: "I think it would be very difficult to command public confidence in the situation where you change the leader again, in an internal party discussion," Mr Davies said.
"I think what's really important is that Liz Truss turns this situation around. She has a mandate from the leadership election, we have a manifesto from 2019, we have a solid platform to build on, albeit the last five weeks have been very difficult indeed, with some self-inflicted mistakes. Now we need to turn that situation back round and get on with the job to the people have purchasing power to deliver for them."
Speaking after Ms Truss's press conference, he added: "The PM secured a mandate from the membership to deliver on the Conservative manifesto that people endorsed at the General Election. "The full focus of colleagues needs to be on working with the PM to deliver for people across the country in these challenging times."
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for a general election. Leader Jane Dodds MS said: "This economic crisis we have been facing wasn't started by Kwasi Kwarteng alone, it was a direct consequence of Liz Truss's economic fantasies.
“The Conservatives have lurched from extreme to extreme over the last seven years, causing economic vandalism on a massive scale. We owe it to the households, individuals and businesses up and down Wales and the rest of the UK who have been hit hard by this crisis, to take firm action now.
“Across Wales, people are angry, fed up and worried about the future. Most of all, they are furious that Conservative MPs seem to think this is an acceptable way to conduct the government of our country in these difficult times. Enough is enough, Truss should call a general election. The public did not give her a mandate to pursue policies so radically different from the 2019 Conservative manifesto, nor to trash our economy and cause families up and down the country hardship.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are prepared to fight a general election and play our role in removing the Conservative Party from power.”
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