Liz Truss was still able to smile today despite her catastrophic 44 days in office abruptly ending as the dispute over her proposed £20,000 payout, an allowance of up to £115,000 per year for life, and a platinum-plated pension escalated.
This morning, the Prime Minister smiled briefly as she entered Downing Street following a run in the central London fog.
At around 8 a.m., the outgoing Tory leader, who is widely regarded as the most disastrous in the party’s history, flashed a sardonic smile to the police as she entered No. 10 through the rear door.
The shortest-serving British prime minister will still receive £18,860 in severance compensation, or £419.11 per day of service.
Ms. Truss is beginning her final week as Prime Minister as her opponents jockey for position, but there is growing outrage about the wealth and advantages she is leaving with and calls for her to give them up.
Liz Truss will receive a £115k golden farewell, equivalent to £419.11 for each of her 44 days as prime minister.
Liz Truss, like all retiring government ministers, will get one-fourth of her yearly salary in severance pay.
Ms. Truss received a total of £164,080: £84,144 for being an MP and £75,440 for being prime minister. Due to her resignation as prime minister, she will get a payment of £18,860.
She will continue to collect her £84,144 salary as South West Norfolk’s representative.
In addition to the £18,860 payout, Ms. Truss will be eligible for an allowance for former prime ministers of up to £115,000 per year.
She will also receive a pension subsidized by taxpayers as a former minister and prime minister.
The size of her pension fund will be determined by the contributions she made during her ten years as a minister.
In addition, she will certainly receive taxpayer-funded police protection for years, if not the remainder of her life.
Despite the extremely brief duration of her premiership, she is entitled to a quarter of her annual salary of £164,080 as severance pay. As a result of her resignation yesterday, she will get a compensation of $18,860.
She will continue to receive her £84,144 salary as MP for South West Norfolk and will also be eligible to receive an allowance for former prime leaders of up to £115,000.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has joined calls for Ms. Truss to refuse her allowance and return any payments, stating that she has “not earned the right” to keep it.
He stated, “She need to turn it down.” I believe that is the correct action to take. She has served 44 days in office, so she is not actually entitled to it; she should decline it.
The Liberal Democrats stated that if she receives the allowance payment, it will leave a “bitter taste.”
Boris Johnson is said to be on an aircraft returning from his Caribbean vacation as he decides whether to run again barely six weeks after being ousted by Conservative MPs.
Rishi Sunak, his chief opponent, is slated to launch his campaign today, with his backers claiming he is prepared to combat Boris “for the soul of the party.”
On Friday, Penny Mordaunt, their second major contender and third favorite for the job, is also anticipated to enter the race.
Today, as Ms. Truss prepares to depart No. 10, it was also revealed:
According to his father, Boris Johnson is flying home as he attempts to attract 100 MPs. Today, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt are anticipated to launch their campaigns;
Conservative lawmakers cautioned that Miss Mordaunt’s ‘woke’ views and lack of experience could harm the party’s chances at the polls.
Suella Braverman, Ben Wallace, and Kemi Badenoch were all debating whether or not to run for the leadership.
After months of upheaval, Labour leader Sir Keir demanded an emergency election, stating that the country deserved a “new start.”
If more than one candidate is put up by MPs, Conservative Party members will vote online to choose the winner, according to Tory leaders.
Treasury sources acknowledged that the new prime minister might scrap the proposal to close a £40billion deficit in the public finances, casting doubt on the Budget’s viability on October 31.
Conservative MPs on the party’s right warned the incoming leader against being soft on immigration after No. 10 suggested that limits could be loosened to help economic growth.
Prime Minister Liz Truss smiles as she enters Downing Street this morning.
The outgoing prime minister was likewise happy as she headed for her daily run.
Ms. Truss brings her phone into No. 10 after her jog as she begins her last week as prime minister.
This morning, on a dreary London morning, Ms. Truss was spotted jogging in the park.
Ms. Truss was running with a friend, who was presumably a member of her political team.
Boris Johnson is pressing for a ‘dream ticket’ comeback today, while Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt are desperately courting MPs.
Poll
Who would you like to see become the next prime minister?
Boris Johnson 18374 votes
Rishi Sunak 7286 votes
Penny Mordaunt 2586 votes
Ben Wallace 1526 votes
Suella Braverman 834 votes
Kemi Badenoch 791 votes
Grant Shapps 139 votes
Other 3290 votes
Now share your thoughts
The trio appears to be in the best position to meet the high barrier of 100 nominations from lawmakers required to appear on the Tory leadership vote; but, it is likely that only one or two will meet the criteria by Monday afternoon’s deadline.
Six weeks after he was driven from power amid a wave of ministerial resignations over Partygate and sleaze, the former prime minister’s supporters are clamoring for a surprise return. Some have suggested that as many as 140 of the 357 Conservative MPs may support him, rendering him virtually unstoppable.
However, skeptics say that his supporters are more vocal than many, and they predict that he will fall short of 100. According to ConservativeHome’s tally, Mr. Sunak is currently in the lead with 35 officially declared candidates, followed by Mr. Johnson with 19 and Ms. Mordaunt with 11.
Mr. Johnson is rumored to be returning early from his vacation in the Dominican Republic as he ‘takes soundings’ on whether to run to succeed Liz Truss following her humiliating resignation.
Crispin Blunt, a Tory MP and erstwhile ally, warned that Mr. Johnson has “personality problems” in addition to a “amazing set of skills.”
The former minister told Sky News, “I don’t believe we can go back there for the next two years.”
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak exits his West London residence in preparation for his campaign launch.
How will the next Prime Minister be selected?
Monday
The deadline for nominations in the Tory leadership election is 2pm. To advance to the first round, candidates will require the backing of 100 members of Congress. If only one member of parliament meets this requirement, they will become prime minister without a vote.
From 3.30 p.m. until 5.30 p.m., the first vote of MPs to pick amongst the leadership candidates will be held. Due to the high bar for nominations, there will be no more than three candidates.
The result of the first vote of MPs is announced at 6pm. In the event that three candidates advance, the contender with the fewest votes will be eliminated. Nonetheless, if only two candidates made it to the first ballot, this would be a symbolic vote for MPs to show their preference between the two remaining candidates.
If three candidates made it to the ballot and the lowest vote-getter was eliminated in the first vote, a second ballot could be held from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. This would become the indicative vote on the last two candidates, allowing members of parliament to demonstrate to party members who they want to be prime minister.
The outcome of the second ballot of MPs will be disclosed at 9 p.m. The two candidates will then be put to a vote by Conservative members online.
Friday
The online membership voting will conclude at 11 a.m. The outcome will be announced later that day, and the new Tory leader will be revealed.
There are also concerns that some center-ground MPs may resign the Tory whip or possibly defect in protest, as they view his leadership as intolerable. This might pave the way for Keir Starmer to call a sudden election and cause a Conservative wipeout, with Labour leading by as much as 36 points in the polls.
Mr. Johnson’s former spin doctor, Will Walden, stated this morning that Mr. Johnson “absolutely loathes to lose” and will not formally run if his poll numbers fall below 100. He continued, “If he believes he has a chance of winning with the members, he will run.”
Mr. Johnson might become only the third prime minister in modern political history to return for a second term, following in the footsteps of his hero Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson of the Labour Party.
However, he is a polarizing figure among the general public and on the Conservative benches. One critic referred to him as a “ego on sticks,” while another advised him to “return to the beach.”
In an effort to repair party tensions, he reportedly urges his former Chancellor, Mr. Sunak, to reach out and ‘come back together’ The extraordinary olive branch followed months of squabbling when the former chancellor was accused of ‘knifing Boris in the back’ when he abruptly resigned from his cabinet seat, unleashing a wave of resignations that ultimately led to Mr. Johnson’s removal as prime minister.
A source said last night that Mr. Johnson realized he had made “mistakes” and that he is now eager to “reach out to talents throughout the party” and serve as a “healing, unifying” leader.
However, Mr. Sunak’s associates deflated hopes for a reconciliation, telling the Sun that while he wishes to bury the hatchet, his ultimate ambition is to become prime minister so he can “get on with the business of repairing the shattered economy.”
Mr. Sunak was also interested in Penny Mordaunt, a potential teammate. She is reportedly rejecting his efforts to build a combined ticket because the current leader of the House of Commons “doesn’t want to play second fiddle.”
The Telegraph writes that after gaining the largest Tory majority in decades in 2019, Mr. Johnson is making his ability to win elections the centerpiece of his campaign.
His closest allies, including ‘Mr Fixit’ Nigel Adams, were feverishly calling MPs for support last night, while Conservative MP Paul Bristow told BBC Radio 4’s World Tonight that it was ‘very realistic’ that he would receive 100 votes to make it into the PM ballot.
While his sister Rachel Johnson said, “wild horses won’t stop him if he wants to run,” she described Keir Starmer as the “PM-in-waiting” and predicted he will win the upcoming election.
Another buddy cautioned that he was “heading into a s**t show he can’t control,” adding, “The party will be on its knees by autumn of next year.”
Others, including Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge, were more positive, tweeting, ‘Hope you enjoyed your vacation, boss. Time for your return. There are few challenges at work that require resolution. #BringBackBoris.’
Friends of Mr. Sunak deflated hopes for a joyous reunion, telling the Sun that while he wants to bury the hatchet, his primary objective is to become prime minister so he can “get on with the job of repairing the shattered economy.”
According to ConservativeHome’s tally, Mr. Sunak is currently in the lead with 35 openly stated candidacies, followed by Mr. Johnson with 19 and Ms. Mordaunt with 11.
Penny Mordaunt was reportedly rejecting Mr. Sunak’s attempts to build a united ticket because the current Leader of the Commons ‘does not want to play second fiddle,’ according to a source who spoke to the Telegraph.
32% of respondents favored Boris Johnson as the replacement of choice, followed by 23% for Rishi Sunak and 10% for Ben Wallace.
While Mr. Johnson already has the support of 50 MPs compared to Mr. Sunak’s 39, the idea of a Boris comeback has prompted some Conservatives to threaten to resign and force by-elections, with one labeling him “ego on sticks.”
A close political ally of the former prime minister told the Daily Mail last night that he was “rested,” “in excellent spirits,” and “itching to take on Keir Starmer.”
A close associate of Mr. Sunak stated that it would be “logical” for him to challenge Mr. Johnson, adding, “It will be a war for the party’s soul.”
However, the journey to No. 10 is not so simple. The prospect of Mr. Johnson’s comeback appears to have caused a rift among Conservative members of parliament, with some threatening to leave the party and force by-elections in their seats.
In a scathing letter, a former moderate minister fumed, “If that ego-on-sticks becomes head of the Conservative party, I will give up the whip.” Many of us will not stand for that man’s leadership,’ said Conservative MP John Baron, who added, “I could not serve under Boris.”
In the meantime, former party chairman David Davis told LBC that Mr. Johnson should “return to the beach.”
The Partygate investigation, to be led by Labour’s Harriet Harman and due to begin in November, might prove problematic for a Mr. Johnson presidency.
According to the Sun, Downing Street has provided the committee with a plethora of documents, emails, images, and texts. An source told the tabloid that the evidence was so damning that it might lead to Boris Johnson’s suspension from the House of Commons, adding, ‘Boris is screwed.’
Even if Mr. Johnson returns to power, the risk of a devastating hearing increases if he is required to testify in person.
According to one ally, he is buoyed by early signs of support from members of parliament, and some ministers who forced him out are now asking for his return in private. If he believes he can go to the final round of the race, he is likely to compete, according to the source.
Last night, an additional close political ally of the former prime minister told the Daily Mail that Mr. Johnson was “itching to take on Keir Starmer.”
They lauded Mr. Johnson as a “proven election winner” and a “brilliant campaigner,” as well as the sole potential candidate with a direct mandate from voters. If the Conservative party was “serious about power,” said the ally, then he was “the only option.”
Supporters among Tory MPs think he is the only likely candidate with a mandate to lead after obtaining a substantial majority in the House of Commons in 2019, and that this would reduce Labour’s appeals for a new General Election.
A YouGov poll conducted earlier this week revealed that if Miss Truss resigned, the most desired option among Conservative party members was for Mr. Johnson to be given the keys to No.
However, many lawmakers oppose his return because he is the subject of an investigation by the Commons privileges committee into PartyGate. It is investigating if he intentionally deceived Parliament about Downing Street parties during the Covid-19 outbreak; if found guilty, he might be expelled as an MP, perhaps throwing the Conservatives into additional instability.