Oldham reacts to stunning Truss departure as PM, while speculation indicates Johnson could return

Oldham's political big guns are reacting feverishly following the news of Liz Truss's shock resignation as Conservative Prime Minister after only 44 days in the job.

Ms Truss will be the shortest serving prime minister in British history.

Her 44 days in the role is a long way behind the next shortest premiership, that of Tory statesman George Canning, who spent 118 full days as PM in 1827 before dying in office from ill health.

Ms Truss was to have overtaken this number of days on January 3, 2023.

However, instead she will fall short by more than two months, with the next prime minister due to be elected within the next week.

Most local political figures, like nationally, are now clamouring for a General Election to be called.

Oldham West and Royton's Labour MP Jim McMahon Tweeted, alongside an image stating "Britain can't afford the Tories any longer": "G E N E R A L . E L E C T I O N . N O W."

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams responded with: "This broken Government is breaking Britain.

"We need a #GeneralElectionNow.

"The political chaos and naval gazing by Conservative MPs is harming my constituents.

"Their attempts to cling on to power without the country having its say are anti-democratic."

Ms Abrahams has since posted further, following another shock story just released by The Times newspaper indicating that former PM Boris Johnson could dramatically stand for re-election after he was ousted in the summer.

Ms Abrahams added: "As #ProfSirJohnCurtice has reminded us, #BorisJohnson is still under investigation by Parliament's @HoCstandards committee.

"There will public outcry if Johnson thinks after all he is done to undermine the rule of law, he can walk back into No 10 #UnfitToGovern #GeneralElectionNow."

Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner is also the Labour Party's deputy leader.

She Tweeted: "Britain now faces a clear and unavoidable choice - stability and strong Government with Labour, or yet more chaos with the Tories #LizTruss #ToryShambles #GeneralElectionNow."

Oldham Council Leader Councillor Amanda Chadderton hasn't held back.

She Tweeted: "This government is an absolute embarrassment.

"We cannot afford the Conservatives' chaos any longer Britain deserves better than this, the absolute last thing we need is another Conservative Prime Minister.

"It's time for a Labour government that will put this country first."

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer also echoes strong sentiments that a General Election has to be the way forward after a chaotic couple of days for the Conservative Government.

He said in a statement: “The Conservative Party has shown it no longer has a mandate to govern.

“After 12 years of Tory failure, the British people deserve so much better than this revolving door of chaos.

"In the last few years, the Tories have set record-high taxation, trashed our institutions and created a cost-of-living crisis.

"Now, they have crashed the economy so badly that people are facing £500 a month extra on their mortgages.

"The damage they have done will take years to fix.

“Each one of these crises was made in Downing Street but paid for by the British public.

"Each one has left our country weaker and worse off.

“The Tories cannot respond to their latest shambles by yet again simply clicking their fingers and shuffling the people at the top without the consent of the British people.

"They do not have a mandate to put the country through yet another experiment; Britain is not their personal fiefdom to run how they wish.

“The British public deserve a proper say on the country’s future.

"They must have the chance to compare the Tories’ chaos with Labour’s plans to sort out their mess, grow the economy for working people and rebuild the country for a fairer, greener future.

"We must have a chance at a fresh start.

"We need a general election – now.”

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