Will Liz Truss resign today? Part 2: PMQs

[sunnydaytoday0]

Well she's staggered on to PMQs today. Get the popcorn ready.

Fingers crossed there'll be a press conference later where she announces her resignation to a grateful nation.

I just don't think she has the self awareness to realise how incredibly badly she's fucked up. Most recent statement shows just that:

From the Guardian:
"The prime minister acknowledges yesterday was a difficult day and she recognises the public wanted to see the government focussing less on politics and more on delivering their priorities. That is also what the prime minister wants.

You saw her take action yesterday and make a number of difficult decisions. She ensured the public can take confidence in the importance of the ministerial code, she provided reassurance to pensioners worried about the rising cost of living. And she took further steps on safeguarding energy security.
She’s also working with the chancellor on delivering economic stability and growth."

"Mordaunt (nearly as bad)
Sunak (hated by the right)
Hunt (needed by the markets as Chancellor)
Wallace (needed by the US and Ukraine in Defence)
Shapps (chancer)
Johnson (even bigger chancer)
Baker (erg token idiot. More liberal part of the party will actively defect)
Javid (apparently shit)
Gove (ship has sailed and has more sense)"

What a list.
I keep thinking they must have someone better stashed away somewhere.

I don’t think Braverman is making her statement today anymore. Was saying that on one of the live feeds earlier.

whatson.parliament.uk/ - List of statements/questions etc.

Braverman no longer listed (she was earlier when I checked).

It doesn't do to forget Hunt.

I think the plan was to hold on to Truss until his budget so that he could control spending, then move him to caretaker PM, leaving someone else to be Chancellor and take the flak for the markets.

Whether last night's "chaos with Ed Milliband" will scupper that plan remains to be seen.

I wonder if Braverman was pressed about not giving a resignation statement or whether she is choosing to keep her powder dry.

thanks @Lonelycrab . Just as well, I’m not sure i could have watched her knifing Liz from the front without bleeding myself.

Tungendhat. That's precisely why he's not a viable alternative!

Think I might pay to actually see
Bawbag Boris walk back into the house of commons.

I'm back baby
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Come back Rehman Chishti, we never really knew you!

Id forgotten about Tugendhat. I can't see anyone capable of holding them together. We will be straight back to the right wing agitating against their own leader. Doomed to repeat May.

So it looks like Liz Truss is here to stay, and to fight on for another day! #QuitterNotAFighter

Sorry lol meant the opposite obvs! #FighterNotAQuitter

Brady has gone into No.10 just now apparently.

She can't resign without a succession plan, that's what they will be discussing. The most sensible thing the party could do is to agree on a unity candidate so no election is needed. However sensible is unlikely!

I have this weird idea from the depths of my not very good political knowledge, that if no party is able to form a government that has the confidence of the house then the king dissolves parliament and there’s a GE. Is that even remotely true/possible?

If they cannot unite behind a new leader, they surely cannot be said to be in a position to have the confidence of the house to form a functioning government?

I think that this underestimates the self-preserving nature of the Conservative party, they are like cockroaches.

They are really stuffed right now.

They can’t keep her
They can’t have another leadership contest (surely?!)
They can just appoint someone and expect the public to accept that (surely?!)
If she goes, whoever is put in to replace her by whatever method, won’t be a serious candidate as they’ll know they can’t win the next GE. So would just be, a caretaker type PM?

I still think Rory Stewart would have been a good option but he was far too moderate and centrist for many in the party.

I think Mordaunt knows she hasn't got the chops to become the PM in any other way at any other more normal time, so I reckon she'll offer to give it a go now, to:

a) always be able to say she's been the PM and get the brucie bonuses of the massive pension and personal security**

b) push through the ghastly reform of the ghastly GRA with Keir Starmer that she's clearly got stitched up. (Hence mad Crispin Blunt's hatred of Liz Truss, who has said No to it.)

**She is not a wealthy person at all. She would also love the private protection.

Don't let hope and excitement creep in. They'll find some shit depressing way of making things even worse for us until the next election. There's always another level of hell with the Tories.

Therese Coffey has now entered No. 10. As I said, things can always be worse

She is the Deputy PM. In theory if Truss steps down she is the natural successor without a leadership contest!!!

Oh the other hand she was said to be one of those trying to manhandle MPs yesterday (Mogg was the other name I saw)