THERE has been a mixed reaction across the county from MPs and councillors following the shock resignation of the Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Liz Truss announced she would be stepping down from the top role after only six weeks – 45 days – making her the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.
The resignation has triggered a fresh Tory leadership contest which will be concluded within the next week.
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Speaking outside 10 Downing Street yesterday, the outgoing PM said: "I recognise that given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
"I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.”
She will stay on as a caretaker before her replacement takes over.
Though many believed Ms Truss had done the right thing in stepping down, others disagreed with the decision to hold yet another leadership contest to elect her replacement.
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat, said Ms Truss had ‘trashed the economy’ and called for a General Election.
Ms Moran said: “Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy. The Conservatives have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country for a minute longer, let alone a week.
“My constituents in Oxford West and Abingdon deserve better. The British people deserve better.
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“This is a Conservative Party on its last legs. We do not need another Conservative Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis. If they had any self-awareness or honour they would go to a general election.
“This will be the second Prime Minister in short succession that will have no mandate. If the Conservative Party doesn't go to the country in a general election, they cannot call themselves democrats.”
Labour MP Anneliese Dodds, who represents East Oxford, described Ms Truss’s time in power as "44 days of utter chaos" and also called for a General Election.
She said the country needed a ‘fresh start’ which would begin with a General Election being called.
Commenting on the resignation, Ms Dodds said: “Twelve years of Conservative failure, three Prime Ministers in four month, 44 days of utter chaos. The Conservatives have failed.
“This country can’t afford more of their squabbling. We need a fresh start. We need a general election now.”
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, added: "It was the only decision she could take having driven our economy into the ground.
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"However, it is quite disgraceful that Conservative MPs should think they can now impose yet another of their discredited number on the country.
"For the sake of our country, its economy and reputation, we need a general election and a Labour government now."
However, conservative MP John Howell, who represents Henley, argued against the country going to the polls, saying it would not be in the best interest of the country.
“Many have called for Liz Truss to resign as Prime Minister,” he said. “She has now done so. Hopefully this will bring to an end what has been a chaotic period of government.
“But I do not support holding a General Election at this time as I do not believe this would be in the best interests of the country.
“I see no conspiracy which has brought her down. She has acknowledged that she moved too quickly and found it difficult to take the Parliamentary Party with her.
“Who will be a candidate to succeed her is not yet known but I hope that they will draw together a genuinely talented and capable cabinet from across the party.
We face the risk of a global recession and the war in Ukraine has far reaching implications. It is my belief that at such times we rally together rather than seek to divide.
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“It does no good for individual parliamentarians to continue to push their own agenda. We were all elected as Conservative MPs and we need to ensure that we work together to achieve our aims for the country.”
Eddie Reeves, Leader of the Conservatives on Oxfordshire County Council, said the resignation was "inevitable" but insisted the Conservatives could still rule "happily2 for the next two years.
“I think many Rishi Sunak backers like me could see her plans were not credible,” he said. “As soon as she reversed the mini-budget and subsequently sacked the Chancellor her political credibility was gone.
“We now need to set about electing a new leader. I would like the MPs who got us in this mess to get us out. MPs are in a better place to make a judgement on the political position of the country and it’s economy so they need to get the job done and get it done within a week.
“If they don’t, the Conservatives will not only lose the next General Election but they will be out for a generation so it’s time for them to earn their money.”
Mr Reeves added he was like to see a ‘moderate’ leader elected to follow the path put forward by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“I would find it very difficult now to support any Prime Minister from the right of the party,” he said. “They’ve trashed the party, not only the party but the reputation of this country.
“If we have a Prime Minister in place in a week who follows the tracks that Jeremy Hunt set then this county will be fine.”
Victoria Prentis, Oxfordshire MP for Banbury, said she also had ‘total confidence’ in Mr Hunt leaingd an ‘orderly’ leadership election in the coming week.
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She said: “My constituents in North Oxfordshire are always my priority. Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been full of emails from local residents who are concerned by the economic situation.
“I have total confidence in the Chancellor to manage our economy, and I look forward to a calm and orderly leadership election next week.”
Conservative MP Robert Courts, who represents Witney and West Oxfordshire, also stressed the important of the leadership election.
He added: “The last few weeks have been among the most unedifying that I have experienced during my time in Parliament.
“I will be doing all I can to ensure that we get the strong, competent leadership required in Number 10 to take our country forward and ensure we deliver the mandate upon which we were elected in 2019.”
Conservative county councillor Liam Walker, who represents the Hanborough & Minster Lovell Division, said he was ‘pleased’ the Prime Minister had decided to resign but would like to see a ‘quick’ leadership election.
He said: “I think is crucial for our party and for the country. What I want to see now is a very quick leadership election process where I would like to see Penny Mordaunt make the final two candidates by Conservative MPs.
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“I strongly believe Penny has the ability to take our country forward by leading a strong team who will focus straight away on the pressing issues our country faces both at home and abroad."
Conservative MP David Johnston, who represents Wantage and Didcot, failed to respond to a request for comment.
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Read more from this author
This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.
Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland
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