Prime Minister Liz Truss faces calls to resign after another chaotic day in Westminster

Latest updates:

Downing Street said Liz Truss acknowledged it had been a “difficult day” in her premiership on Wednesday amid chaotic scenes in the Commons
Truss is currently meeting with the chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives Sir Graham Brady, Downing Street has said
Conservative MP Matthew Offord is the latest to call for the Prime Minister to go
14 Tory MPs have called for Liz Truss to go on Thursday morning
An investigation has been launched by parliamentary authorities at Westminster into allegations of bullying

Liz Truss is facing mounting pressure following another chaotic day at Westminster.

It comes after Suella Braverman’s departure as home secretary and frantic scenes in Parliament.

During a vote on fracking vote in the Commons, Conservative MPs were allegedly manhandled and bullied into voting against Labour’s motion.

An investigation has now been launched by parliamentary authorities at Westminster into the allegations.

Sadly, it seems we must change leader BUT even if the angel Gabriel now takes over, the Parliamentary Party has to urgently rediscover discipline, mutual respect and teamwork if we are to (i) govern the UK well and (ii) avoid slaughter at the next election.#lastchance
— Gary Streeter MP (@garystreeterSWD) October 20, 2022

On Thursday morning, senior Conservative backbencher Simon Hoare, was unable to say whether the country has a functioning government.

He also suggested that Truss has “about 12 hours” in which the turn the situation around.

“I think today and tomorrow are crunch days,” he added.

It turns out the crazy day is not over. I’ve just had a text – after 1.30am – from Downing St saying tonight’s fracking vote was always a confidence vote, that Downing Street made a mistake in telling the minister at the despatch box it wasn’t, and that Tory MPs… pic.twitter.com/BGz8cVY9tm
— Robert Peston (@Peston) October 20, 2022

A senior Tory backbencher, Sir Charles Walker, described events in the Commons on Wednesday as an “absolute disgrace”.

Following the vote, he told BBC News: “To be perfectly honest, this whole affair is inexcusable.

“It is a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party as every level and it reflects really badly, obviously, on the government of the day.”

On a day of chaos and confusion, Conservative MPs were told that the fracking vote was a vote of confidence in Truss’ government.

Minister Graham Stuart then stated in the Commons that, contrary to what they had been told, it was not being treated as a vote of confidence.

In recent weeks, I have watched as the Government has undermined Britain’s economic credibility & fractured our Party irreparably.

Enough is enough.

I have written to the Prime Minister to ask her to stand down as she no longer holds the confidence of this country. pic.twitter.com/hHej8LGfJf
— Jamie Wallis MP (@JamieWallisMP) October 16, 2022

However, in a message circulated at around 1.30am on Thursday, MPs were then informed that the minister was told “mistakenly” by Downing Street so say that it was not a confidence vote.

They were then told that the vote was subject to a three-line whip and that whips would be speaking to those MPs who failed to support the government.

MPs without a “reasonable excuse” for failing to support the government can “expect proportionate disciplinary action”, they were told.