LEADING councillors in Teignbridge have largely welcomed the decision by Liz Truss to step down as Prime Minister but are divided on whether a general election should be called soon.

Ms Truss announced her resignation on Thursday after just 45 days in the job, triggering a fresh contest for leadership which will give the UK its third prime minister in two months.

Cllr Alan Connett, Lib Dem Leader of Teignbridge Council, said: ‘I’m glad Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister and am only sorry she didn’t go sooner. ‘

Whoever the next Conservative Leader is, the country deserves better, much better than a ‘Buggin’s turn’ Prime Minister. We need a General Election now.

‘Thousands of local families now face much bigger mortgage payments because of her decisions.

‘Local people in private rented homes may face rent increases as landlords try to cover the higher costs of buy to let mortgages.

‘This is all in addition to inflation now over 10%, rising food prices and the U turn on help with fuel costs.’

Cllr Phil Bullivant, Chairman of the Newton Abbot Conservative Association, said: ‘The decision made by Liz Truss to resign as Prime Minister came after repeated challenges to her programme to address the problems facing the country.

‘Too many elected politicians were unwilling to accept the need for change and opted for more of the policies that have not delivered the growth the country needs to fund the increasing demands of the health service, international challenges, world wide inflation and an ageing population at home.

‘We will move forward with a new leader that can deliver the future prosperity that provides the bedrock for our essential services and leads the country in a direction that we can be proud of, meeting the challenges of climate change, driving down inflation, increasing energy security and supporting our international friends.

‘There are few in the country who are capable of rising to the challenge but the Conservative Party has some who can and will.’

Responding to Liz Truss’s resignation as Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat candidate for Newton Abbot, Martin Wrigley said: ‘Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy.

‘Liz Truss’s resignation comes not a moment too soon. ‘People in Teignbridge deserve better than this incompetent and chaotic government, which has sent mortgages spiralling while our NHS services are stretched to breaking point. ‘The Conservative party have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country.  ‘This country needs a general election and local Conservative MPs in Teignbridge now need to do their patriotic duty.

‘They cannot prop up more chaotic Governments.  ‘At the next election people across Teignbridge will be backing the Liberal Democrats to get a fair deal on the NHS and the cost of living instead of more Conservative chaos.’