Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister after 45 days in office.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, she said:

“I recognise though 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.

“This morning I met the chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady. We have agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week.

“This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our countries economic stability and national security. I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen.”

Truss’s resignation means a new Tory leadership contest has been triggered, which will be concluded “within the next week”.

Truss succeeded Boris Johnson as prime minister on 6 September after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership contest.

She is now the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.

Liz Truss resigns as prime minister after 45 days in office, making her the shortest-serving PM in UK history