LONDON – Struggling for her political survival after the collapse of her economic agenda, Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss suffered another heavy blow on Wednesday after she was forced to sack her. one of his most senior cabinet ministers, the second major overthrow in six weeks – the old government was plunged into chaos.
Hours after Ms Truss rejected her request to resign – “I’m a fighter, not a quitter”, she announced – the prime minister has sacked her cabinet secretary, Suella Braverman, for a security breach. security regarding a government document that Ms. Braverman had. was sent to a legislator in Congress through her personal email.
Last Friday, Ms. Truss sacked Exchequer’s prime minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, whose sweeping tax cuts rattled financial markets and left the pound in a tailspin. The government’s subsequent reversal of those measures cast Ms Truss’ suspicions on power – a further impression made by Ms. Braverman’s blunt criticism of the government on the way to her departure.
Appearing at a heated session of the prime minister’s questions in Parliament, Ms Truss repeated her apology for pathetic financial program. But she insists that she can continue to govern despite all the disturbances.
“I had to make decisions because of the economic situation to adjust my policies,” Ms. Truss said, her lack of clarity drawing attention from lawmakers. opposition and expressions of distress from members of her own Conservative Party.
It was a devastating test for Ms Truss to appear for only her third time for questioning as prime minister. While political analysts said the session did not produce a direct blow that could lead to Ms Truss’ ouster, the arrival of news about Ms Braverman just hours later exposed sharp rifts. in the cabinet and a prime minister largely at the mercy of events.
Late Wednesday, another commotion broke out over a vote on whether to ban hydraulic fracturing. Amid changing guidelines from Downing Street on how Conservative lawmakers should vote, temper flared, with reports – later contradicted by the government – that the head of government had resigned. , and even alleges that some members were handled by senior ministers.
Ms Braverman, a hardliner who is hostile to moves to allow more immigration to Britain to help boost the economy, admitted she had committed a technical breach of security rules. But in her resignation letter to Ms Truss, she said she was “concerned about the direction of this government”, alleging that the government had breached its commitments to voters and especially failed to refrain from entering the country. reside.
“I made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign,” Ms. Braverman added in a reference that some saw as a tacit rebuke to Ms. Truss, who refused to take the leave. even though she admitted a larger error.
Ms Braverman was replaced by Grant Shapps, a more central figure who was appointed to emphasize shifting the cabinet’s political balance away from hardliners supporting Ms Truss in the leadership contest she won. recent and growing influence of the new prime minister, Jeremy Hunt.
They both backed the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, when he ran unsuccessfully against Ms Truss, warning that her economic agenda was a fairy tale. And Mr Shapps’ support for Mr. Sunak was the reason he was not recommended by Ms. Truss to be cabinet when she came to power.
Under fierce questioning from opposition lawmakers, Ms. Truss revealed yet another reversal in government policy. On Tuesday, senior officials signaled that Downing Street may no longer be subject to election guarantees to increase state pension payouts to keep up with both average income growth and the rate inflation, that is now it’s 10.1 percent.
But when Ms Truss was asked by Scottish National Party parliamentary leader Ian Blackford about the commitment, she said she was “fully committed” to it. That seems to put her at odds with Mr Hunt, who has warned of the need for painful spending cuts.
A Downing Street spokeswoman later said the prime minister and prime minister had agreed on the policy on Wednesday morning before she spoke. And Mr. Hunt sat behind Mrs. Truss, nodding at her statements.
However, with the confusion of policy and the sudden ouster of Ms. Braverman, the question of who really runs the government still looms large in British politics. In Monday, when Mr. Hunt appeared in the House of Commons To confirm the reversal of her economic program, she sat silently behind him.
The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Keir Starmer, pressed Ms. Truss to explain why her claims must be considered credible, given the reversal of her policies and his appointment. Hunt, who at least took control. government economic leverage.
Referring to the tax cuts, as well as Mr. Kwarteng, Mr. Starmer said, “It’s all gone, so why is she still here?”
Ms. Truss tried to turn the tide by accusing Mr. Starmer of backing “warlike” unions: Railway workers is expected to strike again next month. But that counterattack failed on a day dominated by uncertainty over how the prime minister can rebuild his position.
“I acted in the national interest to make sure we had financial stability,” Ms. Truss said, repeating, “I am a fighter, not a quitter.” That line has been made famous by Labor politician Peter Mandelson, however, as criticized by Ms Truss, he has resigned from cabinet twice in his career.
Adding to the sense of crisis, one of Ms Truss’ key aides, Jason Stein, was suspended on Wednesday pending an ethics investigation following a press conference by an unnamed Downing Street source against a senior Conservative lawmaker.
Her own lawmakers have openly speculated about how long Ms. Truss could stay in office. One of them, Steve Double, told the BBC she had until next weekend to convince her colleagues that she should stay.
Perhaps the biggest factor in her support is that there is no sign of consensus on a successor, and some lawmakers are hesitant about jumping into another leadership contest so that soon after the last one has ended. produces an outcome that most Conservative lawmakers now seem to regret.
One argument circulating among the Tories is that they should wait until after October 31, the date when Mr Hunt is expected to present a new plan that is likely to involve massive cuts to the government’s spending programmes. government.
Arguing that Britain’s financial fortunes had been made worse by Ms Truss’ brief tenure in power, arguing that allowing her to take responsibility for the painful consequences before her replacement was politically significant.
However, some lawmakers believe that the longer Ms. Truss is in power, the bigger their tarnished brand will be. The A small group of Conservative lawmakers openly calling for her to quit grew when William Wragg joined them, saying he was “personally ashamed” of the events surrounding the tax cut announcement. .
At the heart of the plan is Graham Brady, the affable chairman of a powerful committee of Conservative members of Parliament, who will preside over a new party leadership election if any.
Few want a repeat of the election that Ms. Truss won after being selected by party members from a two-man shortlist selected by Conservative lawmakers. Members of Congress want more power in the driver’s seat if Ms. Truss is forced out, and Mr Brady’s committee could change the rules to try to sideline activists.
As Ms. Truss was fighting for her job, her ministers were grappling with two ongoing international crises: concerns about Russia’s escalation in the war in Ukraine and a foreign clash. with China because of the outbreak of violence in a Protests outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on Sunday.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace made a surprise trip to Washington on Tuesday to meet Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III amid Russia’s fierce artillery attack on Ukraine. Mr. Wallace’s deputy, James Heappey, said the rationale for the talks was “really beyond belief”, suggesting they discussed President Vladimir V. Putin’s threat to use Russia’s nuclear weapons. .
For the opposition, however, it was enough to capture the political tremors.
Yvette Cooper, who speaks for Labor on family issues, said: “This Tory government is falling apart in a flash. “The appointment and then firing of both your home secretary and prime minister within six weeks is total chaos.”
