People in Coventry react to Truss' resignation
Liz Truss is the shortest-serving PM in British history.
People in Coventry say they are glad Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned but want a General Election rather than a Conservative-chosen replacement.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to five people in the city centre today to get their thoughts on the shock departure of Ms Truss who lasted just 44 days in office.
Paul, 42, from Radford, said: “I’m very glad that she’s resigned because of the effect her policies have had on working-class people, mortgages, rents going up, increase in the cost of living, so I’m very pleased that she is gone, absolutely.”
Asked if he was surprised by the news, he said: “Not surprised, no, I think Truss had to go, but I think it’s wider than Truss, I think the whole Tory government need to go as well because whoever comes in – there’s talk about Johnson as well – they’ve helped cause this crisis.
“And you can’t trust any of them to put it right because they’ve caused it.”
He added: “I do think it’s time for a general election, I also think it’s time for more of us to start taking strike action, industrial action, against the cost of living crisis.
“Bills are going up, everything’s going up. If we act collectively, we can actually get that change.”
Will, 18, from Holbrooks said: “Personally, I’m very glad, very very happy to see Liz Truss resign.
“How long was she in for, 45 days? She didn’t really bring too much to the table.”
Elissa, also 18 and from Holbrooks, added: “I’m not really shocked to be honest.” The pair both agreed on the need for a General Election.
Asked if it’s fair that most people in the UK won’t get to decide her replacement – likely to be decided by the Conservative party – they said no.
“Not in the slightest, people say it’s a free country, so why take away that right” said Will.
Miriam, 31, said she’d been talking about the resignation all afternoon.
She remarked that Liz Truss’s term in office was the shortest of any Prime Minister.
“And that’s including the Queen’s passing which obviously delayed that as well.”
She said Truss had “very little impact, not in a positive manner.”
Miriam and her companion, who wished to remain anonymous, also called for a General Election.
The pair were not happy with the idea of Rishi Sunak or Penny Mordaunt replacing Truss.
But they were also critical of the current Labour party and said support for minority groups in political parties needed to be improved.