Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon call for immediate general election

The leaders of the opposition parties have called for an immediate general election following the resignation of Liz Truss.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the Conservative Party “no longer has a mandate to govern” since it is about to elect its third leader since the 2019 election.

He added: “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.

“We must have a chance at a fresh start. We need a general election – now.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was a “democratic imperative.”

In a tweet after Truss announced her resignation outside Downing Street, she said: “The interests of the Tory party should concern no-one right now. A general election is now a democratic imperative.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey also backed these called.

He said: “We don't need another Conservative Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis. We need a General Election now and the Conservatives out of power.”

However, an early general election can only occur when a Prime Minister calls one or if no party can command a majority on the Commons to establish a government.

By law, the next UK election is not required to take place until January 2025 if a UK government is formed.