BRIDGWATER and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says the Conservatives need to quickly choose a new leader who has "the support and respect" of his party's MPs.

He is calling for stability to be restored following the bombshell announcement by Liz Truss that she is standing down as Prime Minister after less than two months in the job.

Mr Liddell-Grainger does not wish to see a General Election at this stage as there are "too many urgent issues" to be tackled for the country to be side-tracked.

He said Ms Truss should be credited for "doing the honourable thing by resigning.

“She has conceded that mistakes have been made and that, particularly after the chaos in Parliament on Wednesday night, there is no possibility of her being able to deliver her vision for the future of the UK,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.

“I hope Conservative MPs can rapidly reach a consensus on the best person to follow her into Downing Street.

“There are some really major issues facing the country, from events in Ukraine, to the cost of living crisis, to the situation with the Irish border, to the uncertainties gripping the money markets.

“It is in the national interest that these be sorted out quickly and we need rapidly to identify someone who is up to the job of taking the country forward.

“The last thing we need at the moment is the distraction of a general election. Our priority must be to get the Government back on course under a new leader who can command the support and respect of Conservative MPs.”