I really want Conservative MPs to show some backbone...

...and get rid of Liz Truss now, before even more damage is done. To state the obvious, I am no fan of the Conservative Party and I'm pretty happy with polling that shows them getting hammered in the next general election. Their self-immolation is taking the country down with them though. And that is something that I care about more.

I don't care if it's for the wrong reasons. Maybe they are more concerned about losing their seats than the general good of the country or whatever but Conservative MPs are the only people who can stop this. Our economy is already fragile and a lot of people are struggling badly. If the tax plans go through, it will mean debt and destitution for millions.

Lesser-evil arguments do sometimes make a big difference so get Sunak in or Johnson back now and don't leave it a year until the damage is irreparable. Sadly, Truss and Kwarteng have delayed publication of the official analysis of their tax plan until November, which is probably enough to keep them hanging in.

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MartinII · 70-79, M

It’s interesting to think about how this might happen in practice. As I understand it, under present party rules Truss is immune from any challenge for 12 months (the rules could be changed, of course). The various tax changes don’t come before Parliament for some time, except for the reversal of the national insurance increase. It’s possible that the Opposition might table a motion condemning the government’s economic policy which enough Tory MPs would support. One (not very representative) Tory MP was speculating along those lines on Times Radio the other day. If that were to happen, Truss might resign, though I wouldn’t be sure about that. Alternatively following a government defeat on an economic motion there might be a motion of no confidence in the government. Would enough Tory MPs be willing to support such a motion to pass it? Probably not, though it’s not impossible.

It rather makes one yearn for the old days, when the Conservative Party didn’t bother with boring things like votes. A PM who was so unpopular as Truss seems to be would have been locked in a smoke-filled room by the men in suits and not let out until he (it would have been a he) had agreed to change or resign.