Grant Shapps will become the UK's new Home Secretary.
Suella Braverman resigned from her post earlier on Wednesday afternoon - becoming one of the country's shortest ever serving Home Secretaries. She said she had resigned after sending an email with confidential government business from her personal account.
But her resignation letter was a withering attack on Liz Truss, in which Ms Braverman wrote: "As soon as I realised my mistake, I rapidly reported this on official channels, and informed the Cabinet Secretary. As Home Secretary I hold myself to the highest standards and my resignation is the right thing to do.
"The business of government relies upon people accepting responsibility for their mistakes. Pretending we haven't made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can't see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign."
READ MORE: Suella Braverman resignation letter in full as Home Secretary blasts Liz Truss after quitting
She added: "It is obvious to everyone that we are going through a tumultous time. I have concerns about the direction of this government. Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this Government's commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particuarly the dangerous small boats crossings."
Mr Shapps, former Transport Secretary and Conservative Party chairman, has since been confirmed as Ms Braverman's replacement. He was seen entering Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon.
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Mr Shapps did not support Ms Truss during the leadership election - instead backing Rishi Sunak - and was one of her main critics just a few weeks ago over her 'mini-budget'.
And only two nights ago, Mr Shapps had told a theatre audience Liz Truss had a “Mount Everest to climb” to remain in power.
Speaking at a podcast recording with comedian Matt Forde in London, Mr Shapps discussed a spreadsheet he had been known for keeping to track MPs’ support for Liz Truss, and what it said about her prospects.
“I don’t think there’s any secret she has a mountain, a Mount Everest to climb. What she needs to do is like threading the eye of a needle with the lights off,” he added.
Mr Shapps added that one of the PM’s strengths was that she was “enormously direct”, referencing when he was sacked as transport secretary by Mrs Truss for failing to support her leadership campaign. Mr Shapps had dropped out of the race to back her eventual rival Rishi Sunak.
He said his wife felt there was a “20% chance” this directness might lead Mrs Truss to be a success in the role. “I think the 80% is closer than where we’ve got to,” he then joked.
Mr Shapps said the Tory leader’s decision to surround herself largely with those who supported her campaign had meant her base was too “narrow” to successfully lead the party, adding that some of the failures of her Government, such as the mini-budget, could have been avoided by having a broader range of views in Cabinet.
It comes just days after Ms Truss was forced to replace Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor with Jeremy Hunt - prompting the new Chancellor to rip up her tax cuts and economic policy.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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