Following the resignation of a second top minister and the stunning collapse of discipline and unity among her members in parliament on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Liz Truss fought to maintain control on Thursday.
Six weeks into the job, Truss has already experienced a bond market meltdown, the lowest approval ratings of a British leader in decades, the abandonment of almost the entire policy programme, and the loss of her interior minister, who resigned on Wednesday, less than a week after she dismissed her finance minister.
On Wednesday, there was misunderstanding in parliament about whether a vote on fracking was a vote of confidence in her government.
There were reports — later contradicted — that the government’s chief whip, who is in charge of parliamentary enforcer, had resigned.
In a sign of the chaos, Downing Street issued a statement at 1:33 am (0033 GMT) to say the prime minister had “full confidence” in the chief whip and her deputy.
“The whips will now be speaking to Conservative MPs who failed to support the government,” a government spokesperson said. “Those without a reasonable excuse for failing to vote with the government can expect proportionate disciplinary action.”
Truss has been fighting for her political survival since Sept. 23 when her finance minister at the time, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced a “mini-budget” of vast, unfunded tax cuts that sent shockwaves through financial markets.
British borrowing costs have soared, threatening to hit the housing market and aggravate a cost-of-living crisis.
The government’s subsequent reversal of those measures has added to the challenge for Truss to stay in Downing Street — an impression deepened by the chaotic scenes in parliament on Wednesday.
A handful of lawmakers have openly called for Truss to quit, and others have discussed who should replace her.
Transport minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, asked by Times Radio if Truss would lead the Conservative Party into the next election which is expected in 2024, said: “At the moment that is still the case.”