Just 44 days after being elected PM, Liz Truss yesterday quit in humiliation over her disastrous handling of the economy.
But Tory chiefs announced her replacement would again be chosen by party members in a leadership contest – with Boris Johnson said to be lined up for a shock return despite his own record of shame in No10.
And furious voters demanded an immediate general election so the public have a say in who takes charge.
Ms Truss becomes Britain’s shortest-serving PM when she steps down next week.
But while she may be gone, millions of people are still reeling from the effects of her shambolic mini-Budget for the rich, which sparked soaring mortgage payments and the threat of savage cuts to public services to fill the financial black hole she caused.
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And the PM made no apology or showed any contrition for the fiasco in her 88-second resignation speech in front of No10.
She left just 24 hours after insisting she was “a fighter, not a quitter” during a bruising PMQs with Keir Starmer on Wednesday.
The Labour leader also demanded a general election.
He said: “What a mess, this is not just a soap opera at the top of the Tory party, it’s doing huge damage to our economy and to the reputation of our country.
“The public are paying with higher prices, with higher mortgages, so we can’t have a revolving door of chaos.”
And Mr Starmer insisted a return of Mr Johnson would “add insult to injury for the public”.
The former PM’s time in office was littered with scandals, including Partygate, a row over his handling of sex harassment complaints against a minister and a looming probe over claims he misled Parliament.
And the idea he may run for leader again risks sparking a fresh Tory civil war.
Senior party figures warned a raft of MPs would either resign their seats triggering by-elections or give up the whip and sit as independents if he makes a return.
Mr Johnson, who is on holiday the Dominican Republic, is expected to fly back as soon as today.
Tory MP Christopher Chope last night also joined calls for a general election.
He said: “The Conservative parliamentary party has proved over the last several hours that it’s ungovernable… I don’t see now that there’s any reasonable response we can make other than to call an immediate general election.
“What we need now is a new mandate from the people, so that I hope anybody who stands for the leadership will say, ‘I will call an immediate general election as soon as I’m elected.’”
Last night, 44,000 people had signed a Mirror petition calling for an immediate general election.
In a Mirror online vote 61% said there should be one now. And a snap YouGov poll showed 63% believe the new Pm should call an early election.
Ms Truss finally gave up on her shambolic premiership at 1.30pm yesterday after being told she no longer had the support of Tory MPs.
With her husband Hugh O’Leary stood behind her, she said she could not realise her “vision for a low tax” economy after ditching almost all of her mini-Budget pledges.
She said: “I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
“I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party.”
Ms Truss’s rival in the leadership race, Rishi Sunak – who warned her “fairytale” economic policy would spark chaos – is expected to join the race to replace her.
So too are Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman. Ben Wallace and Brandon Lewis are also considering whether to stand.
Party chiefs last night announced that contenders have until 2pm on Monday to get the support of 100 of the 357 Tory MPs.
There could be a new PM as soon as Monday if only one candidate gets the necessary nominations.
Otherwise there will be a ballot of MPs, before the party’s 172,000 members have their say in an online vote with the result announced next Friday.
Ms Truss’s resignation followed shambolic scenes in the Commons on Wednesday night. Suella Braverman quit as Home Secretary after an alleged shouting match.
She left with a stinging attack on her former boss, telling her to “accept responsibility” for mistakes.
Shortly before midday yesterday 1922 committee chief Sir Graham Brady went to No10 where he informed Ms Truss she did not have enough support to stay in post.
But while she quits with an abysmal record hanging over her, she will be entitled to £115,000 a year in taxpayer-funded expenses for the rest of her life.
Ms Truss can also benefit from a one-off £18,860 payout.
